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There is something very special about Sefer Devarim, the Book
of Deuteronomy. Unlike the other books
of the Chumash, where we find Gcd speaking to - and through - Moshe to the
Jewish People, this book is Moshe’s last will and testament. It is Moshe unchained
– Moshe in his own words, his own living legacy; a series of orations delivered
over the final weeks of his life to that eager and impatient generation,
standing as they were on the east bank of the Jordan, chafing at the bit to
begin the conquest of the Land of Israel.
If you listen closely during the Torah readings, this
difference in voice can be heard in the ta’amei hamikrah, the cantillations
used to sing the Torah verses in public. Devarim just plain sounds different.
The difference is nuanced, but it’s there.
And just as the rest of the Torah was written not for only
for the generation that received it, but for all generations, in all times and
in places, so, too, is Moshe’s last will and testament directed not only at the
specific generation of Joshua. Its wisdom is transcendent, independent of time
and place; and that’s why Gcd wanted Moshe’s words appended to His own.
Moshe’s message in this week’s parasha is as timely today, this
week, right now, as it was 3286 years ago when he first spoke it. The words
jump off the page and grab you by the lapels. He’s so on the ball you’d think
Moshe had a current subscription to the New York Times.
Moshe’s message
resonates with us precisely because of troubled times in which we live.
In Europe, we are witnessing an emboldened Jew-hatred at
levels not seen since the 1930s. England, where Jew-hatred used to be more
subtle and refined, now openly boasts “Israel-Free” cities. And here in
America, Judaism is under a threat of a different kind: we are euthanizing ourselves,
committing spiritual Hari Kiri. It seems
that the good-hearted American Jew will champion every cause under the sun - every
cause, that is, except his own survival and self-interest.
And then we have the situation in Israel. For the last two
months, the entire Jewish world was united – first in worry and angst, then
grief and anguish – over the abduction and murder of our three teenaged sons
and the Gaza War against Hamas which followed. But all of that was against a
generalized backdrop of worry about Israel.
Israel, the first sprouting of the promised Messianic
redemption, is under siege in international forums around the world. Israel has
been in a state of war since 1948. The Home Front Defense Ministry estimates
that Israel has some 200,000 rockets and missiles of various ranges and
capabilities aimed at her.
Then we have the Syrian crisis. The bloody and intractable Syrian
civil war threatens to spill over to the Golan at any time.
And ISIL. Having conquered large swaths of Syria and Iraq,
the Islamic State threatens the stability of the Kingdom of Jordan on our
eastern border.
And then there is the over-arching existential threat of a
nuclear Iran.
Many of us are understandably scared and worried about these
developments.
To us, Moshe conveys a message of hope and encouragement in
this week’s Torah portion:
Vchi Tomar Bilvavcha/Perhaps you will
say in your heart: my enemies are more numerous than me; I’m overwhelmed and
worried about how we will survive their attacks. Hamas. Hezbollah. Islamic
Jihad. Fatah. ISIL. Iran.
Do not fear them! (Moshe says.) Remember
what Hashem did to the most powerful military machine on the planet, to Pharaoh
and to all of Egypt. In the same way that Hashem miraculously delivered you
from their hand; in the same way that Hashem miraculously delivered you from Og
king of Bashan, and Sichon king of the Amorites; in the same way that Hashem
miraculously delivered you from the Syrian Greeks; in the same way that Hashem fought
for you in 1948 and in 1967, and again in 1973, against all odds and against
all the prevailing wisdom; so shall Hashem your Gcd do to the people whom you
now fear.
Don’t cower before them; for Hashem
our Gcd is in our midst, the Great and Awesome Gcd.
OK, so maybe I paraphrased a little…
But the intent of Moshe’s words are clear. Don’t fear; to the
contrary, take heart. Don’t be overwhelmed by the troubling news, for there is also
much good news, and much to be grateful for.
I was blown away this week by news of a social media campaign
organized by StandWithUs.com. Individuals from all over the world have taken
to writing the words I Stand With Israel on the palm of their hand and then
taking a picture of their hand together with the passport of their respective
country. To date, thousands of people from 136 countries Stand with Israel. (There
are only 196 countries on the planet.) Even people in Pakistan and Iran sent in
pictures. May Gcd bless them and strengthen them.
Wow. So don’t be afraid, take heart. Yihyeh tov – it’s going
to be OK, it’s all going to work out.
Like the famous teaching of Rebbi Nachman of Breslov: Kol
HaOlam Kulo Gesher Tzar Meod, VehaIkar Lo Lefached Klal. "The whole world is a narrow bridge; but the main thing is not to fear." We find ourselves walking a dangerous rope
bridge over a gaping canyon, but the trick is not to look down. Keep moving
forward and look ahead; Gcd is saying: ‘keep your eyes glued on me’ - look up to
the mountain tops – as the verse in Psalms 121 famously says, whence our help
will come.
The seven weeks between Tisha B’Av & Rosh Hashanah are
called the shiva d’nechemta – the seven weeks of consolation. The consoling, inspiring
message of this week’s parsha to us is: Don’t despair! Keep your chin up! Blessing
and salvation beyond our wildest imaginings are in the offing.
May we all here today merit to see the day when Gcd’s supernal
light floods the world with radiant goodness, with abundant love and with the
blessings of peace.
Shabbat Shalom.
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