In Parshat Behar, the Torah tells us (Vayikra 25:19) that the land will bring forth its produce; we will eat from it contently and live safely inside her. Rashi states interestingly: “even when we eat only a minor amount of the produce we will find bracha.” The Ktav Sofer asksthe following question in retort: shouldn’t we find vbracha if we eat a lot as well?”

The Ktav Sofer goes onto explain that Rashi is making a very astute psychological claim. When we have bountiful wealth we are never satisfied by it and become very unstable for fear of losing it. However, when we train ourselves to be satisfied with little, we can be much more secure. This, the Ktav Sofer writes, is exactly what Kohelet meant in 5:11 where it says "Sweet is the sleep of a laboring man, whether he eat little or much; but the satiety of the rich will not suffer him to sleep." If we train ourselves to be content with less, in those times when we are not as financially stable, we will be able to still find security.

The Mishna in Pirkei Avot (4:1) asks: "Who is wise? He who is happy with his portion (sameach b'heilko)." Rav Hirsch tells us that “lust for money can never be satisfied. And a man’s craving for more and more wealth may well grow to such excess that the lack of what he does not now possess may actually mar his joy in whatever he does have at the preset.”

This is what Rashi means in his commentary. When we are content with what we are given then, and only then, will we be secure. May we find the shalom which will lead us to the true security promised by this week's parsha.

Shabbat shalom