כיצד זוכים לראייה רוחנית רחבה? | הרב אליהו ובר

The Kli Yakar in this week's Torah portion says regarding Abraham our forefather, "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are," he is speaking about those who yearn to come and see the place. To look into the Kli Yakar, it is good to observe both this week's portion and the portion of Va'etchanan, where it speaks of Moses our teacher wanting to see the place. There is a distinction; he brings two things: there is the matter of standing and looking at the place from the outside—that is one thing, which we sometimes do up north, when we look at a place we are forbidden to enter. That is one point, that one looks at the place and the holiness of the place reaches him—I do not recall the exact wording—that is one thing. And there is a second thing: looking from the place. When you stand in this place, there is a way, a special vision, a spiritual vision that allows you to see much further. We may not be in the generation of prophecy, but this place has a special quality, that from this place one can see much further, understand things. It could be that someone here, if they are learning something—whether it is Torah-based, a Talmudic issue, or even something secular, for there is always room for other things—geography, geometry, mathematics, or anything at all, perhaps even politics—when you are here, you can understand more. There is a broader perspective here. If you ask why you don't always see this in people here—those from the outside certainly cannot see such things—but one must know that such a thing exists. There is a matter of having a perspective when you are here and looking outwards. He speaks primarily—the words of the Kli Yakar in this week's portion are mainly about those standing here and looking outwards. And immediately after that, the Torah says: "And he moved from there and built an altar to the Lord." Abraham our forefather, it was there in Hebron, so he says to him: "Here you can—this is it, and Abraham, you are here." And Abraham our forefather builds an altar there to the Lord. The Torah continues with the kings of Sodom and Shinar. The Baal HaTurim asks: what is the connection between the two verses? He says to teach us that if you want to succeed in war, you must build an altar. He brings the verse: "May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifices...We will sing for your victory." There is a subject like this, a complex subject: that when there is a...War, then against it, one must build an altar to the Lord. That is what is written in the Book of Ezra, that they had—the people of the land —they went and built an altar, despite their fear of the people of the land. At the beginning of the book, chapter three, perhaps? They had a fear of the people of the land, so they went and built an altar. Today people are afraid, they say: "We will build an altar here?" Wow, what was it that... Apparently, there was a different way of thinking back then. Why was there a different way of thinking back then? Because back then they had eyes, they stood here, they had eyes that saw from afar. Whoever stands on the sidelines with their eyes fixed on other places, they don't quite get it; they don't understand this matter, or its importance. So, we really need to wake up; first of all, people need to wake up and come here, and then they will have a bit more spiritual insight into everything happening in our midst. It applies to questions, too. People have questions: questions that stand at the heights of the world. Yes, I don't know why suddenly this is the case; there are people who have a difficult question: what to explain, which note to put in an envelope next week. People whose heads have been focused on that for a month or two already. And there are questions that stand at the heights , at the depths of the world. But, let’s go out, for many people it’s at the heights of the world. But there are also much, much more—uh, really, uh, how do you build an altar? What is its size? Uh, how many stones are needed? What is the ratio between the stones and the mixture used? Questions also: what sacrifices are offered? Ritual impurity in the community, so what is permitted and what is forbidden ? What is the measurement for meal offerings? The wine libation? These are questions, these are questions that stand at the heights of the world. This is truly what is needed, uh, in these matters is where we should be discussing. I would have expected, uh, to receive a phone call: "Hello, we have a question, a survey, how much, how much do you think flour is needed for the meal offering? So, what is your opinion?" Like that, like that—I’ve never received such a phone call. I don't know why, but uh, though sadly I do know why, but uh, I say: this, this is the point we need to stand on, and this is our concern. Because when you really stand here, you see into the distance, you see, and that's it. One must see the right things. May the Holy One, blessed be He, help us and give us good eyes to see all of the people of Israel in a good light, and to see only the right and good things, to do all that we desire with a whole heart.