Out of curiosity, I recently googled the phrase “key to success.” I can’t even tell you how many hits came up, from books on Amazon to countless articles across the internet. Clearly, people are searching for that magical key.
In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, we find a verse that says, “G-d will open up for you the gates of His treasure.” To open a gate, of course, one needs a key. The Mishnah tells us of three keys that G-d holds exclusively in His own possession: the key to rain, the key to life, and the key to the afterlife. Some add a fourth—the key to success. This raises a question: Why would success need its own key? If there was rain, there was abundance; in a drought, there was struggle. Isn’t that already the same “key?” Delving into the mystical teachings, we can better appreciate these two keys. Where does success truly come from? The Torah reminds us that G-d holds the key. The question is whether we recognize this. And if so, to what extent. Rain represents the recognition that everything comes from G-d. If He wills it, it happens. Our role is simply to plow, plant, and tend to what grows. Even if we acknowledge that blessings come from the One Above, we often still give ourselves credit for putting those blessings to use. This is true in any field of work, not just in agriculture. We can recognize that a talent that we have comes from G-d, but how we put it to use, is something for which we may take credit. There’s a deeper level. Not only does the rain come from G-d, but even our very ability to work, to think, to create, to seize opportunities—all of that is also a gift from Him. We may have a healthy body and mind that allow us to make the most of His blessings or, we might waste the chance entirely. Now we can understand the two opinions: Some see success as included in the key to rain, while others recognize it as its own key, reflecting a more profound awareness of G-d’s role in every step of the way. As we approach the High Holidays and pray for a blessed year, we should not only ask for blessings from the One Above, but also for the wisdom and strength to use those blessings fully and wisely. Ketiva v’chatima tova. Shabbat Shalom.
ב"ה