(1)Introduction to Perek 3; Defining Geulah
As seen earlier, the Midrash (Rut Rabbah 2:15) writes that Megillat Rut’s primary goal is to teach gemilut chesed. Two beautiful Midrashim to Megillat Rut set high goals for gomlei chasadim: (2)Midrash #1 — Boaz vs. Rav Kook
The Midrash (Rut Rabbah 5:6) states: (3) אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר מַרְיוֹן בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאִם אָדָם עוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה יַעֲשֶׂנָּה בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם, שֶׁאִלּוּ הָיָה רְאוּבֵן יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַכְתִּיב עָלָיו (בראשית לז, כא): וַיִּשְׁמַע רְאוּבֵן וַיַּצִּילֵהוּ מִיָּדָם, בִּכְתֵפוֹ הָיָה מוֹלִיכוֹ אֵצֶל אָבִיו. וְאִלּוּ הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ אַהֲרֹן שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַכְתִּיב עָלָיו (שמות ד, יד): הִנֵּה הוּא יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתֶךָ בְּתֻפִּים וּבִמְחוֹלוֹת הָיָה יוֹצֵא לִקְרָאתוֹ. וְאִלּוּ הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ בֹּעַז שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַכְתִּיב עָלָיו: וַיִּצְבָּט לָהּ קָלִי וַתֹּאכַל וַתִּשְׂבַּע וַתֹּתַר, עֲגָלוֹת מְפֻטָּמוֹת הָיָה מַאֲכִילָהּ. (4) Scripture came to teach us that if a man is going to do a mitzvah, let it be done with his whole heart. Now, if Reuben had known that the Holy One, blessed be He, would write about him, "And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand (Genesis 37:21),” on his shoulder he would have brought him to his father. And if Aaron had known that the Holy One, blessed be He, would write about him "And also, behold, he comes forth to meet you (Exodus 4:14)," with tambourines and dances he would have met him. And if Boaz had known that the Holy One, blessed be He, would write about him "And they reached her parched corn, and she did eat and was satisfied, and left thereof,” he would have fed her with fattened calves. (5) The Midrash continues and teaches that when we do not have a navi to record our special deeds, Eliyahu HaNavi records them, and the Mashiach and Hashem sign his writings. (6) On a simple level, the Midrash teaches us about two things: (7) 1. We should do mitzvot wholeheartedly — comparable to the full-hearted hachnasat orchim performed by Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu, and unlike the limited meal provided by Boaz to Rut, as recorded in Rut perek 2 pasuk 14 according to the Midrash: “they pinched a bit with two fingers.” (8) 2. The concluding portion of the Midrash teaches that our actions are all recorded by Hashem, as taught in the Mishna (Avot 2:1) הסתכל בשלושה דברים ואין אתה בא לידי עבירה, דע מה למעלה ממך--עין רואה, ואוזן שומעת, וכל מעשיך בספר נכתבין. (9) However, to unlock a deeper meaning of the Midrash, let us pose two questions. (10) There are many examples of good people who likely would have done better had they realized their words would be recorded in Tanach. Yaakov Avinu would have most likely treated Leah Imeinu much better and Shmuel HaNavi would have anointed David HaMelech with much more enthusiasm. Why does the Midrash specifically list the deficiencies of Reuven, Aharon, and Boaz? (11) Furthermore, why are Eliyahu HaNavi and the Mashiach, and not just Hashem, mentioned by the Midrash as recording our positive actions? (12)A Message of the Midrash
Let us ponder the common denominator of the actions of Reuven, Aharon, and Boaz. All three of them overcame the yetzer hara for jealousy and vengeance to support the person involved. However, despite overcoming great challenges, the Midrash argues that their actions fall short of Torah excellence. (13) The Midrash teaches us to consider these examples and improve on them; since our actions may be written down as well: Eliyahu HaNavi and Mashiach are in the process of recording the actions that trigger their arrival! When we overcome jealousy or irritation, we are tempted to think that even a bit of kindness suffices, considering how difficult it is to show even a small amount of kindness in such a situation. The Midrash teaches us that even in such circumstances we must be “all in.” (14) As additional motivation, the Midrash explains that our story may be included in the future Sefer HaMashiach V’Eliyahu HaNavi. This is because if we are “all in” while immersed in such challenging circumstances, we will be instrumental in bringing the full geulah to our people, a geulah even greater than that of the time of Yetziat Mitzrayim and David HaMelech! (15) The rejection of mediocrity is a recurring theme in Megillat Rut and its primary commentaries. Chazal’s condemnation of Orpah, as we discussed, and their harsh appraisal of Peloni Almoni’s stance in perek 4 are two other examples. (16)Rav Kook’s Extraordinary Overcoming of the Yetzer Hara
Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook exemplifies extraordinary kindness worthy of recording in the sefer of Eliyahu HaNavi and Mashiach. I, together with Rabbi Moshe Snow of Brooklyn, New York, heard the following story from Rabbi Ephraim Greenblatt zt”l, a leading talmid of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein who grew up in Jerusalem in the 1930s and 1940s. (17) Rabbi Greenblatt tells of a “pious” Jew who relentlessly and mercilessly ridiculed Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook for his religious-zionist worldview. When this Jew needed to visit the United States to raise money to finance his daughter’s wedding, he needed a letter from Rav Kook vouching for his legitimacy. Not only did Rav Kook write this Jew a glowing letter, but he also gave him his “frock” (rabbinic cloak) so that the man could visit America wearing respectable clothes. (18)Midrash #2 — Chesed Benefits the Donor More Than the Beneficiary
The second Midrash, although primarily communicating a vital lesson about chesed, serves as a great example of how peshat is comparable to a song’s melody and derash to its harmony. It adds another dimension of understanding to the pasuk. (19) First, let us carefully examine Rut perek 2 pasuk 19. (20) וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ חֲמוֹתָהּ אֵיפֹה לִקַּ֤טְתְּ הַיּוֹם וְאָ֣נָה עָשִׂית יְהִ֥י מַכִּירֵ֖ךְ בָּר֑וּךְ וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לַחֲמוֹתָהּ אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־עָֽשְׂתָה עִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר שֵׁ֤ם הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי עִמּ֛וֹ הַיּוֹם בֹּֽעַז׃ (21) When Naomi asked Rut where she did leket, why did Rut describe her taking leket as “הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי עִמּ֛וֹ הַיּוֹם” — the man with whom I worked today? She should have described it as Boaz helping her, or the place where she obtained her food. Rather, it sounds like Rut was saying she worked with Boaz. Rut took from Boaz; she did not work with him! (22) Let us begin with a peshat explanation. Consider the Torah’s goal of preserving the dignity of an indigent individual. The Torah does not just give him or her a handout, but rather requires him work to obtain his leket. Rut describes herself as working with Boaz because she worked for her food instead of simply receiving a handout. (23) Malbim offers a different interesting peshat approach to Rut’s words. He explains that the kindness she showed Naomi was what she “provided” to Boaz, and in exchange she was able to amass such a large amount of food. (24) Now for the Midrash (Rut Rabbah 5:2): (25) תָּנֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶּׁבַּעַל הַבַּיִת עוֹשֶׂה עִם הֶעָנִי, הֶעָנִי עוֹשֶׂה עִם בַּעַל הַבַּיִת, שֶׁכֵּן אָמְרָה רוּת לְנָעֳמִי שֵׁם הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי עִמּוֹ הַיּוֹם, וְלֹא אָמְרָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִמִּי, אֶלָּא אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי עִמּוֹ. (26) More than what the master of the house does with the poor man, the poor man does with the master of the house, and so Ruth said to Naomi “The man’s name with whom (‘imo’) I worked today (Ruth 2:19)" and she did not say "the man who worked with me (‘imi’)"; rather "with whom I worked": (27) This Midrash adds a beautiful harmony to the melody of the peshat. The Torah way of tzedakah fortifies the needy individual with the awareness that his receiving chesed benefits the benefactor as well as, if not even more than, himself. This idea fits with the overall theme of Megillat Rut of teaching the great benefit from bestowing chesed upon those in need. (28)ConclusionMegillat Rut emphasizes the need for extraordinary actions and chesed. Mediocrity is roundly condemned as we saw in regards to Orpah and as we will see in regards to the goel of perek 4. Our Midrashim fit into this broader theme of Megillat Rut, inspiring us to elevate ourselves from good to great. Hashem has high expectations for us; He knows we are capable of greatness, and as a strict and loving Father, He will not settle for anything less! When we live up to Hashem’s high expectations, we bring geulah to ourselves and to the entire world.