810. He Who Fears Me

“Your heads, your tribes.” Although I appointed for you heads, elders, and officers, you are all equal before Me, as was said, “Every man of Israel” (Midrash Tanchuma).

We should ask what is so remarkable about everyone being equal before the Creator, as none are transcendent from the perspective of the Creator.

We should interpret that in the way of reward and punishment, there is a difference, as He says, “Although I appointed for you,” and “You are all equal,” meaning in private Providence. This means that from the perspective of the Creator, namely what the Creator does, there is no difference from the perspective of the Creator between great and small, and He can bestow upon everyone.

We should also say in regard to choice, that the whole difference between “your heads” and “your tribes” is only with regard to the person, meaning in Lo Lishma [not for Her sake]. However, before Me, meaning in Lishma [for Her sake], there is no difference, as it is written in Midrash Rabbah: “Verily, anyone who fears Me and does words of Torah, all the wisdom and all of the Torah are in his heart.”