* TORAH WEEKLY * Highlights of the Weekly Torah Portion Parshas Va'eschanan For the week ending 15 Av 5754 22 & 23 July 1994 ========================================================================= This issue is dedicated in honor of the birth of Stuart & Danielle Seltzer's firstborn son ========================================================================= We apologize for the delay in sending out this issue. Unfortunately, there was a small electrical fire in the Yeshiva's PBX, which knocked out the phone system until now. ========================================================================= Summary Although Moshe is content that Yehoshua will lead the nation, Moshe now prays to be allowed to enter the Land of Israel in order to fulfill its special mitzvos. However, Hashem refuses his request. Moshe then reminds the Bnei Yisrael of the gathering at Sinai when they received the Torah -- that they saw no visual representation of the Divine, but only the sound of words. Moshe impresses on the Bnei Yisrael that the revelation of Sinai took place to an entire nation, not to a select elite, and that only the Jewish People will ever be able to claim that Hashem spoke to their entire nation. Moshe specifically enjoins the Bnei Yisrael to "pass over" the event of the gathering at Sinai to their children throughout all generations. Moshe accurately predicts that after the Bnei Yisrael have dwelled in Eretz Yisrael they will sin, be exiled from the Land, and be scattered among all the peoples. They will stay few in number but eventually they will return to Hashem. Moshe designates three "cities of refuge" to which a person who kills inadvertently may flee. Moshe repeats the Ten Commandments and then teaches the Shema, the central credo of Judaism -- that there is only one G-d. Then Moshe warns the people not to succumb to materialism and forget their purpose as a spiritual nation. The Parsha ends with Moshe exhorting the Bnei Yisrael not to intermarry when they enter into Eretz Yisrael, as they cannot be a treasured and holy nation if they intermarry and become indistinguishable from the other nations. ========================================================================= Commentaries "Va'eschanan" (3:23). "Va'eschanan" which means "I implored," is the gematria -- the numerical equivalent -- of 515. The number of hours between sunset of Rosh Hashana and sunrise on Shmini Atzeres (the last chance to change the decree of Yom Kippur) is 516. In the last year of his life, between the start of Rosh Hashana and sunrise on Shmini Atzeres, Moshe prayed each hour that Hashem would forgive him and let him cross over the Jordan. Finally Hashem told him not to continue praying. This teaches us the enormous power of prayer. Hashem told Moshe to stop, implying that if he had continued to pray, Hashem would have acceded to his petition. (Heard from Rabbi Mordechai Perlman) "Ascend to the top of the cliff, and raise your eyes westward, northward,...and see with your eyes, for you shall not cross this Jordan" (3:27). Hashem knew how much Moshe wanted to enter Eretz Yisrael, so why did He tantalize him by telling him to go up and gaze at this Land that he would not enter. Furthermore, our Sages teach that Hashem showed Moshe via prophetic insight every single square inch of Eretz Yisrael -- which must have increased his longing! What was Hashem's purpose? Each of the Avos, the Patriarchs, are associated with a specific quality: Avraham with Chesed, Kindness; Yitzchak with G'vurah, Self-control; Moshe's specific quality was Netzach, Eternity. Everything that Moshe did was forever. For this reason Hashem gave the Torah through Moshe, because the Torah is eternal and immutable. Therefore, Hashem wanted Moshe to see every blade of grass of Eretz Yisrael, so that throughout the long night of exile, the Jewish People would never lose that longing for Eretz Yisrael that Moshe felt when he stood on the top of the cliff and gazed into the Land. (Heard from Rabbi Yerucham Uziel Milevsky) "And you will love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart..." (6:5). The philosophers ask: How can you command love? Love is something instinctive which a person either feels or doesn't feel! Can a person be made to love on demand?! The answer if to be found in the question itself. From the fact that Hashem commanded us to love Him, it follows that it must be part of the nature of all the Jewish People to be able to love the Creator. All that is required is to awaken this natural strength and give it a gentle nudge! (Adapted from the Sfas Emes) "And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart" (6:6). A Jew says twice a day "And you will love Hashem, Your G-d, with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your possessions." It's all too easy to say this in a "broadcasting" way -- speaking to one's neighbors but not to oneself. So immediately the next verse comes to remind us, "And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart" -- because the heart is often as far from the mouth as the heavens from the earth. (In the name of the P'shisker Rav) ========================================================================= Haftorah: Isaiah 40:1-26 The Shabbos immediately following Tisha B'Av is called Shabbos Nachamu -- The Shabbos of Consolation. It takes its name from the first word of this week's Haftorah -- "Comfort, comfort my people says your G-d." The Prophet reminds the people that the time of the Exile of Jerusalem has come to an end. The Midrash tells us that Hashem asks Avraham to comfort Jerusalem, but he does not succeed. He is followed by Yitzchak and Yaakov and Moshe who are also unsuccessful. Finally Hashem Himself comes to comfort the Holy City. ========================================================================= Perek Thought - Chapter 4 "One who learns Torah in order to teach will be granted by Heaven success in both learning and teaching" -- Rabbi Yishmael son of Rabbi Yochanan ben Brokah Pirkei Avos 4:5. One who does his learning of Torah in a manner which includes the teaching of others is guaranteed success not only in his teaching but in his learning as well. Although he sacrifices time from his own learning he will not suffer any loss because Hashem will bless him with the wisdom he seeks. Midrash Shmuel quoted in Tosefos Yom Tov Hashem will open his mind and free him from all obstacles so that he will understand everything clearly. He will then supply him with proper talmidim and attentive chaverim, and endow him with a power of expression to further impart his wisdom to others. 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