This week's parsha, Nasso, tells us the laws of the Sota. If a husband has a feeling of jealousy, and says to his wife, "do not seclude yourself (hide) with that man." And then it continues with the details of what happens if in fact she was alone with that man.
Aside from the simple meaning of the passage, that it is talking about a husband and wife, on a deeper level, it is talking about the relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people, He is, so to speak, the husband and every one of us, is the wife.
On Mount Sinai, He said, "You should not have any gods before Me," that was His statement of warning to us. In a way He is saying, "do not seclude yourself (hide) with that man."
We have to ask: How is it possible to hide from Hashem? He is everywhere, as the Zohar says, "There is no place that is void of Him," and as Hashem says, "If a man hides in hidden places, will I not see him?" So how is it possible to be hidden from Him?
The answer is, that Hashem says about a person with an inflated ego, "he and I can't dwell in the same place." In a way the big shot is hiding himself from Hashem. It is only that way, because Hashem wants it to be that way, He really doesn't like a big ego. It is as if He is not there.
As the Baal Shem Tov interprets the verse as a statement, "If a man hides in hidden places, and (he is an) I, I will not see him"
The Talmud says, "A husband who took back his jealous statement, his statement is void." This only works if she hadn't secluded herself with the man prior to the husband taking back his statement. If however she has already secluded herself, it isn't in his power to take it back any more.
The Talmud Yerushalmi says that he can still take it back, even if she had been secluded. "As long as the Megillah has not been erased." This was the end of the process that the Sota went through. They would write the passage of the Sota on parchment, which was called the Megillah, it would be erased in water, and then the Sota would drink it.
There seems to be a difference of opinion between the Talmud Bavli and the Talmud Yerushalmi. How can we reconcile the two?
The Rogechover answers this dilemma. He says that the Yerushalmi is talking about a specific case, when the seclusion would normally be appropriate, and it is only inappropriate because of the husband's jealous statement. For example, if he said, "I don't want you to be alone with your father," which is normally allowed.
Since it is only based on his own words, he could take it back at any time.
The truth is that Hashem really sees everything and there is no hiding from Him. The only reason we are able to be hidden from Him, is because Hashem chose it is to be that way. "Every big ego is disgusting to Hashem," and "he and I can't dwell in the same place."
Since Hashem imposed this on Himself, He can always change His mind and take it back, even after the so called seclusion.
In the case of the Sota, she goes through a process that ends with erasing of the Megillah. They erased the ink from the parchment in water. This is only possible with parchment and ink or the like, because they are two entities that are attached, so they can be separated. However if the words are engraved then there is no erasing them.
When one studies Torah in a way that it is engraved into the person, then although he secluded himself from Hashem, by having a big ego, when he finds humility, he will immediately be forgiven, he doesn't have to go through a process, because it can't be erased. However when he studies Torah in the way of ink on parchment, then as in the Sota's case, she had to offer a sacrifice of barley, which is animal fodder and a very small amount, which is considered a poor person's offering. So too, does the one who has a big ego has to realize that he is acting like an animal, that only thinks of himself and is poor, as poor in judgement.
And when he goes through this process, he doesn't remain the same, but becomes much better than before, as the Sota was healed, even if she wasn't able to have children, she now was able to have children.
May we merit to come closer to Hashem and see a miraculous healing for all of us. And may we meet the coming of Moshiach. May he come soon.
Dedicated in honor of our son Mendel, who celebrated his birthday this week, may Hashem give you an amazing year, Mommy and I are so proud of you.
Thank you so much dear Rabbi. So blessed to read you.
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