Dvar Torah Parashat Va'etchanan
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Dedicated in Honor of my Friend, Jack Rahmey By Albert and Dina Jammal _______________________________________________________ Parashat Va'etchanan / Shabbat Nachamu
The Shema
Va’etchanan is a continuation of Moshe’s speech to Bnei Yisrael that began in Parashat Devarim. Moshe began this speech by giving rebuke, though the Ramban explains that the intention was not to put the people down, but rather to show them that even though they deserved the rebuke, Hashem had still blessed them throughout their forty years of wandering in the desert. They were provided with maan, water, guiding pillars of cloud and fire, and constant Divine protection. In this way, Hashem showed love for His people.
The Torah brings us the familiar words, “Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokenu Hashem Echad—Hear, O Israel, Hashem is Our G-d, Hashem is the One and Only (6:4)!” which we recite three times a day.
Rambam comments that the importance of reciting the Shema every morning and every night is indicated by the fact that the Torah places it immediately after the Ten Commandments. According to Rav Chasman, as cited in Rabbi Twerski’s book, the Shema is more than just a statement of our personal faith. It is our acceptance of the responsibility to live our lives in a manner that will convince others that Hashem is the One and only G-d. We must be a living example by emulating His middot of chessed. We must sanctify Hashem’s name to the nations and make a kiddush Hashem.
Pirkei Avot writes about each Rabbi “Hu haya omer… — he used to say…,” and then writes a quote that is the essence of his teachings. The literal translation of “hu haya omer” is “he was said.” In other words, the Rabbi was what he said, he personified his teachings, and he taught by who he was.
Our obligation is not just limited to saying the words of “Shema Yisrael” for ourselves. Rather, we must spread them to our Jewish brethren and be a light among the nations. We must continue doing this — as we have throughout history — until we eventually see the coming of the Mashiach, when the world will recognize Hashem as the One and only G-d! In the Torah, the ayin in the word Shema and the daled in the word Echad are written large. These two letters spell ed—witness. By reciting the Shema, the Jew is a witness to Hashem’s Oneness and to His creation of the world!
Where Are You Going?
Rabbi Rubashkin tells of a time he was once with a pilot looking at a small Cessna plane which was high winged and had a single propellor in the front. Inside the plane he saw many buttons and dials, but one stood out to him, it was a dial with a picture of a small plane.
He asked what that dial did, and the pilot replied, “That dial is what tells you if you are going up or down, sideways or upside down.”
Rubashkin was confused, “Can’t you just tell if you are going up and down. It’s pretty obvious, just look out the window”.
The pilot replied, “One would think. But in bad weather it’s very hard to tell. This little dial tells us exactly where we are going. Without this dial we would not know how to reach our destination!”
So too, we must know where we are going. Just like pilots, we cannot use our assessment of the situation to guide us. We can’t only listen to our emotions, because they change our perspective. We feel like doing different things each moment. That is why we have the Torah to guide us throughout our lives. Just focus on what the Torah is saying to do because the Torah is the emet—truth, and it will lead us on the life we are meant to live.
Kiddush Hashem
In the parasha, Moshe said, “See, I have taught you decrees and ordinances…. You shall safeguard and perform them, for it is your wisdom and discernment in the eyes of the peoples, who shall hear all these decrees and who shall say, ‘Surely a wise and discerning people is this great nation (4:5–6)!’” Rashi comments on this, “Only if you remember the laws and perform them perfectly will you be respected by the nations, but if you permit forgetfulness to pervert your proper performance of the commandments, you will be regarded as fools.” It’s our responsibility, as Am Yisrael, to follow the mitzvot and to be a source of light for the world to follow, even as it’s shrouded in darkness and immorality.
Michael Cohen, from the Mitzvah Man organization shares a story that he heard from the man himself. Mr. Cohen employs many personal trainers in his gym. One of the trainers contacted him to tell him this story. This man is non-Jewish ex-marine, with an intimidatingly large build. He said that he was driving in Williamsburg, and he got into a fender bender with a religious Jew. The Jew’s car got dented, and he started yelling and screaming at the trainer about how his car was damaged.
Though it was very difficult to keep his cool, the trainer remembered what he learned at Michael Cohen’s gym. The non-Jewish trainer told the religious man, “What are you getting upset about. It is a scratch, a little dent. It’s nothing. Baruch Hashem it is not your life.”
The religious man was stunned. “Where did you learn that?”
The trainer answered, “I work in Michael Cohen’s gym. All his clients taught me that everything that happens in life is from Hashem, so why get upset? How is business? Baruch Hashem is good. I got to work late. They don’t complain, they say Baruch Hashem you got to work. Anything you think they would complain about they attribute it to Hashem.”
The religious Jew was astounded. They got into conversation, and the trainer mentioned what he does for work. The man told the trainer that him and his seventeen Hassidic friends were looking for a trainer, and they booked all eighteen of the men as clients.
What a kiddush Hashem! The most beautiful part of the story was that just by living a Torah life, the regular people at Michael Cohen’s gym were able to teach such a beautiful message to a non-Jewish person. During a time of high stress and pressure he was able to put his life into perspective by remembering that Hashem controls everything. It is possible that the trainer was rewarded on the spot with more business for spreading this message. Let’s continue to live an outright life of Torah and be respected as a light amongst nations.
Lo Tachmod – Don’t Covet
In this week’s parasha, Moshe repeated the Ten Commandments. Rabbi Frand reflects on jealousy and its antidote in his book, Rabbi Frand on the Parasha 3. “And you shall not covet your fellow’s wife, you shall not desire your fellow’s house, his field, his slave, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your fellow (5:18).” Perhaps one of the hardest commandments to understand — let alone fulfill — is Lo Tachmod—Don’t Covet. As Ibn Ezra asks, how can the Torah command us not to feel an emotion that comes naturally when someone has something that we would like to have? When the neighbor renovates his house and builds a pool, how can a person be expected not to want to have a pool as well?
Ibn Ezra answers this question through a parable. Imagine a commoner who visits the royal palace. As he is viewing the beautiful grounds, he sees the princess step outside in her royal garments. Though struck by her beauty, does he think for a moment, I want to marry her? Most people wouldn’t entertain that thought for a second. They realize that the king’s daughter is out of their league. People desire something that they can conceivably have, not something that is totally out of reach.
The same should hold true for someone else’s possessions. We should train ourselves to realize that since Hashem gave the pool to the neighbor, it is something that He wants the neighbor to have, not us. As such, it should not be within the realm of our desires.
Rav Simchah Zissel explains another antidote to jealousy. Did you ever hear a father or mother wish that their children would have fewer material possessions just because they had less when they were at the same stage in life? No. Parents are thrilled when their children have more than they did. Why? Because they love their children more than themselves, they are happy when their children can afford anything they want. If we would truly fulfill ve’ahavta lerei’acha kamocha and love every Jew as we love ourselves, we wouldn’t feel jealous of them for owning possessions that we cannot afford. After having Tisha B’av we should be vigilant to be happy for our neighbors and friends, just as we are happy when our own children have more than we do.
Releasing Our Burdens
Rabbi Sameach discusses Moshe’s question from last week’s parasha. “How can I alone carry your troubles, your burdens and your quarrels?” Rashi learns from the word “your burdens” that Bnei Yisrael were “non-believers” (on some level). How does Rashi learn that from this word? It is written that when a person is a believer, he doesn’t feel like he is carrying a heavy burden, because he knows that it is all from Hashem. If Bnei Yisrael are carrying burdens, it is a sign that they don’t have the proper level of bitachon—reliance on Hashem.
Rav Michael Ber Weissmandl zt”l was one of the legendary leaders of Hatzalah during the Holocaust, spearheading efforts to save the lives of those stuck in Europe. He was able to establish connections with Nazi leaders and succeeded in temporarily halting the deportations after promising huge bribes of money, which he then needed to come up with. Rav Weissmandl approached the secular Jewish leaders and explained to them that for one million dollars – which they had at their disposal – they would be able to save one million of their Hungarian brothers and sisters. He pleaded, begged and cajoled, but they refused. As a result, the majority of Hungarian Jewry perished in the gas chambers.
After coming so close to saving so many people from death, Rav Weissmandl was crushed that the opportunity had slipped through his hands. His pain was indescribable. He visited the great Rabbi known as the “Rayatz,” and for a full hour, he cried bitterly as he described the lost opportunity that resulted in the decimation of so many Jews.
The Rebbe listened quietly as Rav Weissmandl poured out his heart. Then the Rebbe proclaimed, “And who did all this? Hakadosh Baruch Hu! Do you think it was the Jewish leadership who are responsible for this great tragedy?” he asked. “Do they have any power? It’s all from Hashem! Clearly this was part of the Master Plan.” These words gave Rav Weissmandl new strength and helped him resume his holy work, as he continued to sacrifice his days and nights to save his fellow Jews.
Harav Matisyahu Solomon zt”l shares that the litmus test to determine if we are relying too much on our efforts is our prayers. If we rush through our prayers because we must prepare for a meeting to accomplish something on our list, or if we can’t concentrate on our prayers because we are distracted by something that we need to take care of, it’s a sign that we are relying primarily on our efforts instead of having proper bitachon. This Tisha B’av let’s remember Who is really in control and pray to Him with proper Kavanah—concentration. All our burdens and tests are because we are in galut. Prioritizing tefillah and improving our connection with Hashem will help relieve our burdens and remove our worries, bringing happiness and serenity into our lives and bring us closer to receiving the Bet Hamikdash speedily in our days.
The Meaning of Shabbat Nachamu
Shabbat Nachamu—comfort received its name from the prophecy describing our return to the final Bet Hamikdash—Holy Temple. This is the first of seven similar Torah readings consoling Bnei Yisroel. Starting Wednesday afternoon, everything will be back to normal. We will be able to eat meat, listen to music… Rabbi Avigdor Miller’s son asked him a powerful question. If the Bet Hamikdash is not rebuilt, how are we comforted? What has changed?
Rabbi Miller answers this question by delving into the purpose of Tisha B’Av. Our Rabbis teach us that each year the Bet Hamikdash is not rebuilt, it is as if we destroyed it! Each year we mourn because the underlying cause of the Temple’s destruction, baseless hatred is still prevalent. Therefore, in order to remedy this, we stop our mundane schedule and acknowledge this tragedy that caused Hashem to leave us.
During the three weeks, nine days, and especially Tisha B’av we are encouraged to make amends with those we are angry with. We need to take tangible steps to correct our behaviors that are blocking Mashiach from freeing us.
Rav Matisyahu Salomon explains that there is a special type of chessed-righteous action that a Jew can do for another which emanates from our Neshama—Jewish soul. When a Jew is connected to another Jewish soul, their closeness helps them share each other’s pain. When Hashem sees His children feel so strongly for our fellow Jews, He generates a wellspring of blessing and salvation for His nation.
Therefore, on Tisha B’av we are urged to take the time to sit in our fellow Jews’ pain. When we grieve, we realize our hearts are filled with empathy and capacity to love. This teaches us empathy and remedies the baseless hatred in our nation which will ultimately bring the geulah—redemption!
Empathy is not an extra bonus to live a moral life, it is an essential element of connection and conflict resolution. As parents and role models of the future generations we must endeavor to develop children’s ability to commiserate with others.
May we celebrate the joyous and hopeful day of Shabbat Nachamu. May we accept upon ourselves to use the Shema Yisrael as a reminder of our responsibility to always look to make a kiddush Hashem. May we continue to be a light unto other nations and bring kedushah to the world by following the ways of our holy Torah so that we may sanctify Hashem’s great name forever until the coming of the Mashiach! Amen!
Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Amram Sananes, written by Jack Rahmey
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This book is a compilation of Divre Torah from the weekly parasha classes from Rabbi Sananes’ teachings over the last 10 years along with my own experiences in those classes which has stimulated my Torah growth. I’ve included many pertinent stories and life lessons to grow from at your Shabbat table. There’s also questions and discussion points at the end of each Parasha to stimulate a Torah conversation at your Shabbat table for the whole family to participate in. Also, included is a holidays section at the end of the book to use for all of our special holidays and Yomiim Toviim. Now available in all Jewish bookstores and Amazon! Scan the barcode on the right to purchase from Amazon. |
Rabbi Sananes and I look forward to hearing your feedback. Sincerely, Rabbi Amram Sananes and Jack E. Rahmey AmramSananes@me.com and jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com (917-226-6276) |
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