Torah Table of Contents
There's a Time and a Place for Every Thought, Divrei Yisroel"VaYikach VaYiten Es HaEdus El HaAron... And (Moshe) took and placed [literally- gave] the Testimony into the Ark... (Shemos 40:20)
In describing the task of placing everything in its proper place in the Mishkan (Tabernacle), one of two terms is used - either vayasem or vayiten - both of which mean - he placed. For the Edus - the Torah itself, two verbs are used - VaYikach VaYiten. The Divrei Yisroel joins a wealth of commentaries in explaining why these two terms are used.
The Divrei Yisroel explains that VaYikach VaYiten refers to the "give and take" of our relationship with HaShem. HaShem's Giving is not just unilateral, it's effect depends on the recipient, as will be shown below.
He quotes the Gemara in Rosh Hashana (17: ) - "If HaShem "budgeted" on Rosh Hashana that they would receive small amounts of rainfall, and they subsequently improved their actions, then the rains will fall at the optimal times and places. If HaShem "budgeted" that they would receive plentiful rains, and their actions subsequently deteriorated, the rains will fall at the wrong times, in the deserts, and other locations that will not help their water needs. The Divrei Yisroel quotes his grandfather, the famed Rebbe Yechezkel of Kuzmir, who said about this Gemora that the same is true for the effects of the pure and holy thoughts that HaShem "budgets" for each Jew during the coming year. If a Jew improves his ways, even after Rosh Hashana, then he will merit a bountiful "crop" of pure and holy thoughts at all the right times - when he learns and davens, for example. Whereas, if chalila, he moves in the wrong direction, even though on Rosh Hashana Hashem "budgeted" him for plenty of pure and holy thoughts, these will come on "unplowed fields", - inappropriate sites, such as the bathroom, where no sanctity and spiritual growth will sprout from the thoughts.
(Writer's note - We see here that holy thoughts alone are not the goal, but instead, how they will affect and inspire us to grow in Torah, Divine Service and Mitzvos.)
From this idea, we understand that the Bounty of the Torah is dependent on HaShem's "vayiten" - giving, as well as our "vayikach" - reception. They are inextricably bound together.
