Rashi explains the term, tipol lachem, “shall fall to you.” Since the land had been apportioned by lottery, its division was expressed in terms of “falling.” Alternatively, he quotes the Midrash that explains “falling” as a reference to Hashem causing the ministering angels of the seven nations, who at that time inhabited the land of Canaan, to “fall” from the Heavens. They were bound up before Moshe Rabbeinu. Hashem said to Moshe, “Look, they no longer have koach, strength.” Hashem expects us to be mishtadel, endeavor, regardless of the fact that it is Hashem Who prepares the path of success. We do “our thing,” but we must remember that our thing is nothing more than a façade. Success is only effected by Hashem.
This idea, explains Horav Gamliel Rabinowitz, Shlita, is the underlying lesson of the Midrash. Hashem told Moshe, “I took down the angels. (Whatever koach, strength and power, they had came from Hashem. He relieved the angels of their power.) See, they do not have any power (of their own). They are no longer a threat to you.”
How often do we aggrandize our various successes – intimating that it was “me”; “I” with “my” hard work; “my” attention to detail, “my” persistence, etc. Rarely do we hear someone attribute his success purely/solely to siyata diShmaya, Divine assistance. A young man who had truly worked hard and succeeded in a business endeavor came before the Satmar Rav, zl, to petition his blessing – for the future. He began his conversation saying, “The Rebbe should believe me that I did this all on my own. My father did not help – neither did my father-in-law. My entire success was carried with my “ten fingers.” The Rebbe listened and, in his sweet, mellow tone said, By inzere’ frima Yidden reefed men dus – siyata diShmaya, “We observant Jews refer to such success as siyata diShmaya.”
A Jew must realize that every bit of success (or failure) is orchestrated by Heaven. His “ten fingers” are powerless without Hashem as the power source. Horav Baruch Dov Povarsky, Shlita, has been learning b’chavrusa, in tandem with a study partner, with a prominent attorney, Yaakov Weinroth, who is viewed by many as one of the top attorneys in Eretz Yisrael. The attorney, who has a brilliant mind, was once a student in Ponevez, and he has maintained a kesher, strong bond, with the Rosh Yeshivah.
At a gathering in Bnei Brak, Rav Povarsky spoke about the need to pray for siyata diShmaya in order to understand Torah. He said, “Years ago, an attorney named Yaakov Weinroth learned by us in the yeshivah. He later shared with me that from time to time, he meets with judges, some of whom serve on the Israeli Supreme Court. He related that he sometimes says over a shtikel Gemorah, passage in the Talmud, and explains it analytically (in the manner that one studies in yeshivah). He is shocked when they do not understand what he is saying to them. The Gemorah and the lomdus are above their heads. How could this be? A young student in the yeshivah understands what a Supreme Court judge finds difficult to comprehend?”
The Rosh Yeshivah concluded, “The explanation is quite simple. Torah is Toras Hashem and, without siyata diShmaya, there is no chance that one can understand a single word!”
