Parshas Eikev

In this week's parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu says "v'ata Yisrael mah Hashem Elokecha sho'el me'imach, ki im l'yirah es Hashem Elokocha" - "And now, Yisroel, what does Hashem your G-d ask of you? Only that you fear Hashem, your G-d". The Gemara in Brachos asks the famous question: is fear of Hashem really such a small matter? To which the Gemara answers: yes indeed, to someone like Moshe Rabbeinu, fear of Hashem is a small matter.

The obvious question is, we all know that when speaking to someone else it is important to speak to them on their own level, so that they can relate to what is being said. If so, why would Moshe Rabbeinu say something like that to Klal Yisroel on his own level? Shouldn't he have been more considerate of the fact that even though it may have been simple for him, for Klal Yisroel it is more difficult?

The answer is, says R' Ahron Kotler, that each and every member of Klal Yisroel has a small part of Moshe Rabbeinu within themselves. Every Rebbe gives over a part of himself into his talmidim, and since Moshe Rabbeinu was the Rebbe of Klal Yisroel, a small part of his spirit is imbued in each person. And when a person focuses on that part of himself, the part of pure holiness that comes from Moshe Rabbeinu, then indeed, he will find that it is truly not difficult to fear Hashem.