איש כי ידור נדר לה’… לא יחל דברו ככל היוצא מפיו יעשה (מטות ל:ג)

When the Belzer Rebbe shlita visited America in תשמ”א (the English year 1981), he visited the distinguished Rebbe in America, the Admor of Bluzhev zt”l.  As is customary, the Bluzheve  Rebbe repaid the visit to the Belzer Rebbe.

It was a harsh, cold winter day with heavy snowfalls, and it was hard for the Bluzheve  Rebbe to leave his home at such an old age.  But for the honor of the Belzer Rebbe, the Bluzheve Rebbe persisted.

The Bluzheve Rebbe told the Belzer Rebbe: “My gabbaim tried dissuading me from leaving my home due to the harsh weather, but I reminded myself of a gathering for the “Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in America.”  The gathering was scheduled for six o’clock sharp, but many Rabbanim showed up two hours later.  I told them that the gathering was canceled and gave an explanation: It says “איש כי ידור נדר לה’… לא יחל דברו ככל היוצא מפיו יעשה” – the Mefarshim (commentators) ask: Why is there a double phrase; first it says: “לא יחל דברו” and then it says “כל היוצא מפיו יעשה”? The answer is that the passuk talks about a tzaddik because it uses the term איש – and it is known that איש symbolizes an esteemed person. 

The double phrase teaches us that a tzaddik and a Rebbe must be doubly cautious with their words. People approach them for blessings, and if a Rebbe does not keep his word, then from heaven, he is told that his blessings cannot be effective. Therefore, a tzaddik has to be cautious about what he says.

This is what the passuk says: “איש כי ידור” – the tzaddik who says something needs to know that “לא יחל דברו” – when he is cautious with what he says, then “ככל היוצא מפיו יעשה” – Hashem will fulfill all his blessings that he wishes upon others.”

The Bluzheve Rebbe continued: “When the Chevra  – referring to the notable people of the Moetzes Gedolei Yisroel – did not come on time, I explained to them the importance of coming on time and being careful with what they committed to.” 

He concluded by telling the Belzer Rebbe: “Since we made up that I will come to visit the Rebbe today, I could not retract from what I said because a Rebbe has to know ‘what is said, is said…’”.