“Thus may Hashem do for me and thus may He continue to do for death will part between me and you.” (Rus 1:17)

Rus’s devotion to Naomi is a wonderful example of a “naaseh v’nishma” type of acceptance. Orpah allows herself to be convinced by Naomi’s logic but Rus rises above herself and swears: “Only death will part between me and you.” With these words she pledges to keep all of Naomi’s customs gives up her familiar lifestyle and commits to life with an old woman devoid of all her grandeur. (Lekach Tov based on a talk of Rav Shlomo Brevda ztz”l)

“Only death will part between me and you.” In the fields of Yehudah golden sheaves of wheat prick up their ears in wonder: Where did this young Moabite woman learn such words? These are words hewn from Maamad Har Sinai the words of a nation worthy of receiving Torah.

Bnei Yisrael who preceded “naaseh” to “nishma” received two crowns from the angels. Similarly when Rus made the commitment to stay with Naomi she merited taking the first step toward her coronation as mother of malchus beis David. (ibid.)

From this point on the Megillah portrays Rus’s noble behavior as that of a woman who’s committed to “naaseh v’nishma” with utter submission to daas Torah. She does not take a step without asking for guidance. Before leaving to gather grain in the fields — an endeavor which seems to be essential for existence — she asks Naomi’s permission. Only after Naomi says “go my daughter” does Rus “go and come and gather.”

 “And Boaz said to the young man standing over the harvesters: Who does this young woman belong to?” (Rus 2:5). Was it Boaz’s way to inquire about women? asks Rashi. He noticed her pleasing behavior and noble deeds and began to inquire about her. All the women would bend down and gather grain; she would sit and gather. All the women would lift up their garments she would lower them. All the women would joke with the harvesters she would conceal herself. All the women would harvest between the sheaves she would only gather from that which was clearly hefker. (Midrash Rabbah 4:9)

I want to rise each morning and proclaim “naaseh v’nishma” with pride and resolution. Yearning fills my heart whenever I learn about Rus. A pampered Moabite princess who gave it all up who was willing to turn her back on a glittering future. She didn’t know if anyone would be willing to marry her. She realized she may live out her years as a penniless pariah but that was a price she was willing to pay for the privilege of becoming a daughter of the King.

Sometimes I ask myself: What holds me back from being like Rus? Why can’t I hold my head high and follow my inner truth unwaveringly?

It’s those barriers that hide and twist and pervert the truth I long to live by. There are fear barriers of “what will people say.”  There are worldly luxuries I have a hard time giving up. I’m used to them and that’s that.

There are barriers of habit. I daven and light Shabbos candles for the thousandth time and routine paints the most beautiful moments in my life with a dull gray brush and I plod on like a robot on remote control. The fear of sounding too eager or naïve and the myriad technical details of life lock me into a tiny airless room.

The Ramchal writes in Mesilas Yesharim that when doing any action one should not have any intention except for “coming close to Hashem and shedding all the barriers that separate him from his Creator.” (Lekach Tov)

Rus shed all the barriers and her soul’s light shone with such pure brilliance that she beheld Hashem Himself.

Saying “naaseh v’nishma” means realizing what’s really stopping me from being the woman I want to be. It means opening a tiny window or even creating a crack. Hashem give me the strength to shed the barriers and break free.

Give me the power to walk in Rus’s footsteps.