Parashat Va'etchanan / Shabbat Nachamu

Dedicated Leilui Nishmat Cipora bat Ettie A’h, Sheila Engel

by Edward & Shari Dobin and Family

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Parashat Va'etchanan / Shabbat Nachamu

The Shema

Va’etchanan is a continuation of Moshe’s speech to B’nei 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.

Pirke 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.

With All Your Possessions

The Shema goes on to say, “Veahavta et Hashem elokecha be’chol levavcha u’bechol nafshecha u’bechol me’odecha — You shall love Hashem with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all me’odecha.”

What does me’odecha mean? The word is hard to translate. The closest root is me’od, or “very;” hence, “with all your might” is a common translation. But the word can also refer to possessions. This means that we must acknowledge that everything we possess comes from Hashem.

We have to thank Hashem for everything He has done for us throughout our lives! Just look back at your life and see the parents and family that Hashem gave you, the opportunities, the house, the business that He gifted you, and the community He put you into. Your health, your appearance — all that you possess is from Hashem. And this includes the adversities and the tests that He sent your way to challenge you and help you grow. Also, look at the rabbis who helped guide you, and the mentors who inspired you throughout your life. They are from Hashem.

Light Unto the Nations

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.

Rabbi Yoel Gold told a few stories in his video presentation, Illumination, that remind and inspire us to follow in Hashem’s ways and be a light unto the nations. The first story in the video was about the Mensch of Malden Mills.

In December 1995, a boiler exploded in the largest textile factory in the country, the Malden Mills. The entire factory was burned to the ground in a fire so large, that it took an entire week to put out. At the most festive time of the year for thousands of Mr. Feuerstein’s largely Christian workforce, they faced the stress of unemployment, the anxiety over providing for their families, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Mr. Aaron Feuerstein ZT’L, the CEO of the company, a third-generation owner, was about to collect half a billion dollars in insurance for the overnight destruction of his factory. He was faced with a decision: either pocket the money and retire or rebuild the company overseas, saving money on labor, and then pocketing most of the insurance money. Both were great and reasonable options. At 70 years-old, it was commonly assumed he would retire.

The next day, Mr. Feuerstein called a press conference to publicly declare his plans. It was televised and many important political figures attended along with the factory employees. Mr. Feuerstein stood up and announced that he would rebuild the factory where it originally stood. Everyone waited in shock, and he continued with an even more stunning proclamation. “All our employees will be paid their full salaries while the factory is rebuilt.” The entire place erupted in applause filled with intense emotion.

Mr. Feuerstein paid tens of millions of dollars in employees’ salaries during this uncertain time. It was covered on the national news. When he was interviewed and asked why he did such an inspiring act of kindness, he quoted Pirke Avot in Hebrew, “Bimkom she’en anashim, hishtadel lehiyot ish—In a place where there’s no humanity, strive to be a human being.”

Mr. Feuerstein was a man of Torah who treated his workers as human beings, not a pair of hands. He did plenty for his employees, as well as the Orthodox community in Boston. Sadly, he passed away after Rabbi Yoel Gold’s interview, but he will be remembered for many years as an anav and a man of integrity and chessed.

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. We would be happy for them, just as we are happy when our own children have more than we do.

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

Discussion Point:

Do we make a conscious effort not to be jealous of our neighbor since all of our possessions are from Hashem

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Le’ilui Nishmat…

Eliyahu Ben Rachel

Rabbi Shimon Chay Ben Yaasher

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Sarah Bat Chanah

Esther Bat Sarah

Avraham Ben Mazal

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Rabbi Meyer Ben Chana

Rahamim Ben Mazal

Batsheva Bat Sarah Esther

Rafael Ben Miriam

Ovadia Ben Esther

Rav Haim Ben Rivka

Moshe Ben Mazal

Moshe Ben Yael

Yitzchak Ben Adele

Avraham Ben Mazal

Meir Ben Latifa

Chanah Bat Esther

Yaakov Ben Rachel

Malka Bat Garaz

Moshe Ben Garaz

Avraham Ben Kami

Yaakov Ben Leah

Mordechai Ben Rachel

Chacham Shaul Rachamim Ben Mazal

Natan Ben Rachel

Saadia Ben Miriam

Eliyah Ben Latifa Simhon

Margalit Bat Mazal

Ovadia Haim Ben Malaky

Rabbi Aharon Chaim Ben Ruchama

Luratte Bat Masouda

Esther Bat Menucha

Uri Ben Rahel

Rivka Bat Dona

Shalom Ben Zahra

Rachel Bat Sarah

Shalom Ben Zahra

Chava Yvette Bat Jamile

Refuah Shelemah…

Rachel Bat Devorah

Anyone interested in dedicating this Divre Torah Le'ilui Nishmat or Refuah Shelemah or In Honor of someone, can email me at

jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com. Checks can be made out to “A Life of Torah” for $101 and mailed to 2387 Ocean Ave Suite 1G, Brooklyn, NY 11229 (please put in the memo “Divre Torah”). Anyone interested in past parshiot please go to the website ParashaPerspective.org