창세기 29:20의 유대 사상

But the above-cited words of our sages (Berachoth 33b): "Is fear of the L-rd a small thing? Yes, to Moses it is a small thing. The situation is analogous to a man's being asked for a large vessel, etc." — these words still demand explanation. For it would seem that our sages are not answering this question along the aforementioned lines but that their intent is to say that since Moses found it easy of attainment he portrays it as such, as though it were easy for them. And I have already written above that this is cause for wonder, for it is not reasonable to gauge what is easy or difficult for another by what is easy or difficult for oneself. A closer look, however, will show that there is no cause for question. For our reservation applies only in respect to something that is easy to the speaker and not possibly easy to the one he is addressing, but this state [fear of the L-rd] is of an entirely different nature, being within the capabilities of all men. And the man who has attained it describes it truthfully as easy of attainment in the respect that all of the exertion and toil expended in its attainment are as nothing compared to the exalted thing that is attained; so much so, that one who pictures it to himself in all the glory of its exaltedness will not find its pursuit toilsome even in the very midst of his toils to attain it, as in (Bereshith 29:20): "And they were but as a few days in his love of her." But one who does not picture and discriminate it as such will see it as extremely difficult of attainment, though in truth it be very easy in point of its nature. This can be compared to one's having tried out a certain occupation, having found it easy, and telling others who think it difficult because they have not tried it out: "Believe me, it is quite easy." This is how I interpret the words of our sages. In any event, Moses' saying "And know this today" and the rest of the parshah are seen to be cogently interconnected according to our interpretation. And the verses may also be understood according to our sages' interpretation. For there is no doubt that when the world is visited with distress and adversity it is easier for a man to return to His Creator. How much more so should we return, in our time and in our epoch when the L-rd has smitten such a multitude, to examine our deeds and repent both of those sins between man and his Creator and those between man and his fellow man.