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Fascinating Insights—The Sefer (in English)

Excuseless

There are those that give different excuses for why they believe they can’t accomplish in various areas (studying Torah, being successful at a profession and so on). One’s excuse is because of his upbringing while another blames his Rebbe. Another claims he has a learning disability. The list goes on. Nevertheless, we see some that have troubles yet become successes and others that don’t, as it depends on us, not outside factors. In this way the Ritva[1] explains why Yaakov and Esav were twins, as it was to show that the righteousness of Yaakov came because of himself and not because of his parents or any other reason. Yaakov and Esav were in the same stomach, the same parents and so forth yet Yaakov was righteous and Esav evil. So, the cause of our greatness or lack of it is dependent on us. This is just as R’ Elazar Ben Durdiya remarked אין הדבר תלוי אלא בי, it depends solely on me.[2] 

The great R’ Akiva could have had many excuses why he shouldn’t be a success. He didn’t begin learning Torah until age 40,[3] didn’t descend from Jewish lineage,[4] his father-in-law was against him marrying his daughter,[5] 24,000 students of his died[6] and so on. Yet he persevered and became the great R’ Akiva to the extent that he recited Shema at his final moments on this world while being combed to death with saying I finally have the opportunity to fulfill בכל נפשך (even if he takes your soul)![7]

This idea is shown in the Parsha where it speaks of the two goats of Yom Kippur. The Mishna[8] states that they should be alike in appearance, height, value and purchased in a single transaction. Yet, one is for Hashem and one is לעזאזל.[9] Similarly, two people can have the same parents, attend the same Yeshivos and the like and turn out so different. 

One may have good excuses for why he is unsuccessful. We can compare this to one that is overweight who was extremely busy working and taking care of his family that he had no time to exercise thereby being unable to lose weight. Although it may be true, nevertheless because of his inaction he looks the way he looks.

The Gemara says שובו בנים שובבים חוץ מאחר, return wayward sons except for Acher.[10] This can also be interpreted that those who say I am the exception, I am different (אחר) are the ones that can’t (חוץ) do Teshuva because they think they are different. It is the ones who say I am different that don’t accomplish in life, as they always have excuses.