THE SONG OF THE DONKEY
The donkey sings of the greatness of subservience to the will of Hashem.
[Song 65] Donkey (Ch. 5)
חֲמוֹר אוֹמֵר. לְךָ יְיָ הַגְּדֻלָּה וְהַגְּבוּרָה וְהַתִּפְאֶרֶת וְהַנֵּצַח וְהַהוֹד כִּי כֹל בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ לְךָ יְיָ הַמַּמְלָכָה וְהַמִּתְנַשֵּׂא לְכֹל לְרֹאשׁ: (דברי הימים א' כט יא)
The Donkey is saying: “Yours, Hashem, is the greatness, and the might, and the splendor, and the victory, and the glory, for everything in the Heavens and earth [is yours]; Yours, Hashem, is the kingship, and the exaltation over all.”
Commentary
The donkey is the classical beast of burden. The Zohar remarks that it “is not
arrogant and it does not kick out against its master.”
It willingly carries encumbering loads on its back and sings of the virtue of subjugation to the Master of the world.
No matter what load Hashem places on our backs, we should have faith that He
knows how much we can carry. Even if we do not understand why He wants us
to undergo certain challenges, we must carry on with loyal obedience. Hashem
understands more than we do. We should learn from the donkey that the only
true greatness one can reach is to carry the load of its master. It is lowly and
shameful to stoop before another human being, but when one buckles to the will
of the Master of the world, he emits not a whimper, but a song of majesty. Not
for naught is it said that the Mashiach will ride on a donkey.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
How great can fallible man become? The only true greatness is Hashem and only by subjugating oneself to His
will does one have any form of true quality. All Hashem created for His glory. The ultimate goodness bestowed
upon man is to enable him to partake in the song of existence. This is the eternal life of the World to Come. Yet
even in this world, the song of servitude resonates.
No matter what the load Hashem places on your back have faith that He knows how much you can carry. And
no matter whether or not you understand why the master wants what He commands, do so with loyal obedience.
The master understands more than his donkey does. More so, Hashem understand more than we do.
If one were to stoop before his fellow his behavior would be lowly and shameful. But when one buckles to the
will of the Master of the world he emits not a whimper but a song of majesty. Not for naught is it said that the
Mashiach will ride on a donkey.
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.