ויאמר אל נא תעזב אתנו כי על כן ידעת חנתנו במדבר והיית לנו לעינים (בהעלותך י:לא)

A group of chassidim once traveled to the holy Sar Shalom of Belz zt”l. Along their journey, they had to pass through a dangerous border crossing. Before departing for home, they entered the Rebbe’s room and asked him to daven that their return trip should pass safely and peacefully.

The Sar Shalom replied that when a Yid travels to a tzaddik, from the very moment he leaves his home, the tzaddik sees him and watches over him, ensuring his journey proceeds smoothly and he arrives safely. And certainly, when the chassid returns home, the tzaddik continues to protect him so that no harm should befall him on the way.

The First Belzer Rebbe zt”l added that this idea is hinted to in the parshah, when Moshe Rabbeinu told Yisro: “ויאמר אל נא תעזב אתנו” — “Please do not forsake us.” Why? “כי על כן ידעת חנתנו במדבר” — because you knew where we encamped in the wilderness. How did you know? “והיית לנו לעינים” — because you were like eyes for us.

The First Belzer Rebbe explained that this means: you saw us from the moment we left our homes, and you watched over us so that nothing harmful would occur, allowing us to arrive safely.

Rashi notes that the words “והיית לנו לעינים” can be understood in both the past and future tense. This alludes to the fact that a tzaddik watches over his chassidim both in the “עבר” — on their journey to the tzaddik — and in the “עתיד” — on their return home as well, ensuring that they arrive safely and unharmed.