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By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum
ויאמר ה’ אל משה אל תירא אותו (פרק כא פסוק לד)
As the Jewish nation prepares for battle with Og and his nation, Bashan, Hashem encourages Moshe and tells him not to be afraid of them. Rashi explains (as expounded on by R’ Bachya) that Moshe certainly had no reason to fear any flesh and blood, after all, he had Hashem on his side. Rather, he was afraid that Og had a spiritual merit in his favor because many years earlier he had informed Avraham of Lot’s capture. In response Hashem was comforting Moshe that the merits of the Jews would outweigh that of Og’s. This, says R’ Bachya, is what Chazal mean when they say that Moshe struck Og at his ankle. He targeted the merit of Og’s steps that he took with his feet to inform Avraham. We can learn a tremendous lesson from here. Og did not have good intentions when informing Avraham of Lot’s capture, rather he wanted Avraham to go fight, get killed, and then Og would marry Sarah. Even so, his merit was enough to frighten Moshe many years later. We should not hesitate to perform mitzvos and learn Torah because of ulterior personal motives that we may have, rather we should do what Hashem wants of us and eventually we will grow into better people.
קח את כל ראשי העם והוקע אותם לה’ נגד השמש וישב חרון אף ה'(פרק כה פסוק ד)
After the Jews sinned with the Moabite women and the idol Peor, Hashem told Moshe that he should gather all the leaders to judge the sinners and have them hanged. The Gemara in Sanhedrin explains that really, they could have had one trial for all the people because it was regarding one sin but to abate Hashem’s anger (ישב חרון אף ה’) they had many trials with many judges. Rashi explains that through many people involving themselves in Hashem’s mitzva of judging and avenging His besmirched honor, Hashem’s wrath would subside. R’ Aharon Leib Shteinman deduces from here that there is a special סגולה when many Jews are involved in spreading the glory of Hashem. Even a job that could be done by a handful of people should preferably be done by many. This is a useful tool especially in times of trouble when there is a clear increase in Hashem’s anger. Through public involvement in mitzvos we can turn the tide.
