“…and into thy ovens, and into thy kneading troughs.” (Shemos 7:28)

Chazal tell us that Chananya, Mishael, and Azarya decided to be thrown into a furnace because they learned from the tzefardea. These frogs were not obligated to jump into the Egyptian ovens, but did so anyway; therefore, the men reasoned that certainly they should be obligated to jump into a fire. This needs a bit of explanation.

First, it is actually a disagreement amongst Rishonim if one is allowed to kill himself in a situation for “Kiddush Hashem” if it is not demanded of him. Second, if Chananya, Mishael, and Azarya were commanded to give up their lives, then why would they need to learn this from the frogs?

I would pose the following question. According to the opinion cited in Shulchan Aruch that states that one is permitted to allow himself to be killed for a Kiddush Hashem, even where this is not demanded, what should I answer him if that person would ask me, “Rabbi Zachariash, should I allow myself to be killed or not?” How would we decide, and would the answer be the same for everyone?

There is a famous story told about wealthy relatives of the Vilna Gaon who wanted an esrog for Sukkos. But the price of an esrog was so high that the only way they could purchase it would be to sell their home. The husband and wife decided to do so, and went from riches to rags overnight. Under normal circumstances one would not be permitted to spend a large sum of money to do a mitzvah if it would change one’s financial status. I don’t recall any rabbinic sources discussing the permissibility of this incident, but I would like to make my own comment about it. The story goes that when the hardships became unbearable to this woman, she would walk past her former home to see what she had given up, and this gave her the strength to carry on. I believe that a typical psychologist today would tell his  depressed patient that the place of one’s former wealth should be the last place to go! However, when this women went there, it calmed her because she felt she received the better end of the deal. She got a mitzvah, whereas the other person only got a physical home.

If a person has an opportunity to make a Kiddush Hashem at great personal cost, some people would consider it an honor and well worth the cost and difficulties. There are others who would feel that they would lose out in enjoying life due to the performance of this Kiddush Hashem. I believe that the way this would affect a person in his life afterwards should be the guiding light to decide if one should do it or not.

I once heard a story about Rebbetzin Leah Karelitz, the wife of Reb Nissim Karelitz. When she was a young girl, it was customary in her family for the girls to get new shoes for Yom Tov (only new shoes – not a new wardrobe). Once before Pesach she asked her father, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kopshitz, if she could have shemura matzah for all of the seven days. Her father said, “I would love to give it to you, but I just cannot afford it.” To that she replied, “I will give up my new shoes” – and she did! She was elated the entire 7 days of Pesach. One is definitely not obligated to go to these lengths to get shemura matza, but I do believe she had true simchas Yom Tov.

Based on this, I would like to explain the the kal v’chomer of Chananya, Mishael, and Azarya as follows: Though the frogs were not obligated to jump into the fiery ovens, they still understood that this was the better way to leave this earth; we too are not always necessarily obligated to give up our lives, but the time to be “machmir” on Kiddush Hashem is when it is the better way for one to live (i.e. end) his life.  This is obviously a very personal decision. This applies to every aspect of our service of Hashem, when this service isn’t compulsory (otherwise known as chumrahs). When one gives up something that is meaningful to him to increase kavod shamayim, he is making a Kiddush Hashem.

May we merit never to have to make such a decision. But let us use this lesson to teach us that any non-compulsory acts that we do should lead us to serving Hashem with greater joy.