The Profound Secret of Habakkuk: The Impact of Breaking Bad Habits

The 'Yalkut Shimoni' (Section 187) tells us that Rabbi Yeshayah, a student of Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa, was puzzled about how it was possible that dogs, known for being 'fierce in spirit,' merited to sing praises to Hashem. To find an answer to his question, Rabbi Yeshayah fasted for 85 days.

After his fasts, an angel appeared to him and said: "Yeshayah, how long will you fast? It is decreed by Hashem that since revealing this secret to the Prophet Habakkuk, no creature has been privy to it." The angel continued: "However, since you are a student of a great scholar, Heaven has compelled me to be sent to you with this message: it is written about the dogs, 'But against any of the Israelites, no dog will bark,' and additionally, they merited to have their hides used for Torah scrolls, tefillin, and mezuzot."

The angel's answer reveals the extent of the power of breaking one's nature. The dogs acted against their natural instincts; typically, they would bark whenever a slave attempted to leave Egypt. Yet when the Israelites left, they remained silent. Even amidst the great cries throughout Egypt during the Exodus, when dogs would normally bark loudest, they did not bark at all. Because they acted against their nature, they were granted to sing praises to Hashem and were rewarded with their hides being used for sacred purposes.

The tomb of Habakkuk, within the structure

The book 'Treasures of the Torah' presents this midrash and concludes: "From this, we learn how valuable it is to conquer one's instinct and nature even once in a lifetime! Consider that the fierce-spirited dogs were granted the privilege of eternally singing such sweet and pleasant songs because of one act against their nature. How much more so for a human being, who is the crown of creation with a soul from above; imagine the spiritual achievements possible when one overcomes personal desires, the very purpose of our existence."

This was the insight revealed to the Prophet Habakkuk, giving us a glimpse into the rewards of mitzvot. It is known that Hashem concealed the full extent of mitzvah rewards to preserve human free will and ethical challenges. If people truly understood the immense rewards for even one mitzvah, they would chase after mitzvot persistently. Therefore, the Torah deliberately keeps these rewards hidden, allowing for choice and personal growth.

Nevertheless, since Rabbi Yeshayah was the student of R' Hanina ben Dosa and fasted for eighty-five days, Heaven consented to reveal an answer to his question, despite the insight it would provide into the value of mitzvot.

Rabbi Zamir Cohen in a special lecture about breaking bad habits: