Parashat Ekev ( perek 9, pesukim 4-6) says, after Hashem tells us how powerful the enemy is, and how God is going to crush them in front of us, “ אַל־תֹּאמַ֣ר בִּלְבָבְךָ֗ Don't say in your heart, when God destroys them, בְּצִדְקָתִי֙ הֱבִיאַ֣נִי It was my righteousness…..” No. לֹ֣א בְצִדְקָתְךָ֗ It wasn't your righteousness. Rather, it was their wickedness, and in order to fulfill the promise that God made to Avraham and Yitzhak and Yaakov. And then God reiterates, וְיָדַעְתָּ֗ כִּ֠י לֹ֤א בְצִדְקָֽתְךָ֙ You should know, that was not your righteousness.” There's an argument among the Rishonim , our great rabbis of old, about whom this message is referring to. The Ramban says that this was not aimed at every future generation, because if anything, it says God loves you . So, he argues, how can you say it's happening because of your forefathers, and that you're no good? He says that this is specifically directed to that generation, that had sinned, and therefore weren't worthy. The Or Hachaim HaKadosh adds that even if they weren't worthy, that doesn't mean they were wicked, because it says about them, “ You are cleaving to Hashem, your God .” He says that it means that their merits were not enough to give them the land , but they weren't wicked people. That pasuk says it wasn’t because of your righteousness, meaning they were righteous, but their righteousness wouldn't have earned them that success. He as well says that this pasuk is talking to that generation only. Rabbenu Yonah, on the other hand, says in Shaare Teshuva that No, this is speaking to every generation, and furthermore, it's one of the 613 Mitzvot. This is a powerful hiddush . That means one of the 613 Mitzvot is to have the mindset that you shouldn't think that your success is due your righteousness and your straightness of heart. You might be righteous, and you might have a straight heart, but do not believe that's why the success is happening. Don’t say, “ Oh, I did a lot of charity..I did a lot of Hessed, I get up and pray Netz every morning. That's why I had such a good year .” Do not think that. We believe and we know, in our hearts, that our success comes from Hessed HaElyon V’ Rav Tuvo , (four very important words to remember) Kindness from the One Above and His abundance of goodness . That means everything that happens to me is not due my righteousness. Of course, this doesn't mean that you're not righteous, and it doesn't mean that you're righteousness didn't give it to you. We're not saying that there is no reward and punishment. Your righteousness might've given it to you, but that doesn't mean that you deserve it for your righteousness. If a child takes out the garbage and he gets a new bicycle, his father could say, “ It wasn't your righteousness that gave you this bicycle. It was the fact that I love your grandfather , not because of what you did.” That's the way we have to look at things. Everything that we get is H essed Elyon V’Rav Tuvo. He further proves it from Yaakov Avinu, who was the choice of the forefathers. Yaakov said, “ I became small from all of God's kindnesses. ” Yaakov was a great man- the most choice of the forefathers. And he got a lot and he worked hard, but Yaakov Avinu himself says, I don't deserve this . God gave me so much kindness. As Rabbenu Bachye says, in Vayikra (26, 21), Zu Derech HaTorah/ This is the Torah approach. When you are successful and things go well, you have to look inside your heart and say, It‘s Hessed Hashem, not my merits, not my deeds . Hessed Hashem . This is a very powerful point on how to look at life. When we marry off our children… buy a new house… buy a second house..we have health… for all the good things that we have… what we call Hatzlacha/success, don't go and say, “ It was me.” The same is true when it comes to prayer. The Gemara says that you're not supposed to say, “ I prayed so well, now I'm going to get answered. ” Of course, prayer works and we get answered for our prayers, but don't think , “I prayed so good. So now, because I prayed so well, I deserve it. ” Even after you prayed so well, it's still God's greatness. When you have Bitachon, one of the seven principles, says the Hovot Halevavot, is that you rely on God's kindness. You don't need to deserve it.. that's really the key. When you realize you don't deserve it, that’s when Hashem gives you. But don't think,” I'm so good and I deserve it .” We don't deserve it. We're good and we try hard, but all that doesn't give it to us. Why do we get things? Hessed Elyon V’Rav Tuvo. There's a wonderful rabbi, Rabbi Bension Kay, son in law of Rabbi Diamond. He runs a beautiful Yeshiva. Whenever you talk to him the conversation never goes by without him saying, Hashem’s Hesse d. In his jolly way, with his beautiful South African accent, he always says, Hashem’s Hessed. He was trained that way from a young boy. Hashem’s Hessed. I asked him about it once and he said his father always used to say it. That's the way we should train ourselves, and our children Hashem’s Hessed. That's how we got it, and no, we don't deserve it. It’s Hashem’s Hessed. Every time you say that and think like that, according to Rabbenu Yonah, you are fulfilling one of the 613 mitzvot, no different than putting on Tefilin or shaking a lulav and etrog . And the opposite is a negative commandment. But whether we count it as a mitzvah or not, it's still, as Rabbeu Bachye says, Derech HaTorah/The Torah way. Have a wonderful day and a Shabbat Shalom.