Overview of the Weekly Reading: Netsavim-Vayelech,
Shabbat Mevarchim
To be read on the Shabbat of 23 Elul 5762 (Aug.31)
Torah: Deut. 29:9-31:30
Haftorah:Isaiah 61:10- 63:9 (7th of the
Seven Haftorahs of Consolation)
Pirkei Avot: Chapter Four
to Six
Netzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20)
opens with G-d making a covenant with the Jews, establishing them as
His nation. He tells them that if they stray from the Torah, evil will
befall them, but that when they return they will be rewarded with blessings,
and will be returned to their land. G-d sets before them the choice
between good and evil, but warns them to stay away from evil. Vayeilech
(Deuteronomy 30:1-30) opens with Moshe telling the Jews that he has
reached the age of 120 and will not be entering the Land of Israel with
them. He summons Joshua in front of the Jewish people, telling them
that he will lead them into the land, and that they should be strong
and brave. Moshe tells them about the Hakhel gathering of all the men,
women and children, which occurs every seven years during the festival
of Sukkos after the Sabbatical year. Moshe wrote 13 Torah scrolls, one
for each of the tribes, and one for the Ark.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC REBBES (V:51.52-62/Netsavim/Vayelech
)
Netzavim
"G-d will single him out for misfortune, etc."(29:20)
This seems a paradox. After the soul of the person had already been blotted
out [see previous verse and commentaries], how can G-d separate it from
other souls?
We may have to understand this in connection with Isaiah 60 that all the
Jewish souls originate in the same sacred part of heaven, immediately
below the throne of G-d, as we have been told in Vayikra Rabba
4,6 on Genesis 46:26 where all the 70 souls of the family of Jacob are
described as "the whole soul" (singular), as opposed to the
souls of Esau which are described in the plural (Genesis 36).
When the Torah writes that "G-d will blot out his name for
under the heaven, this means that G-d will not take action against this
man and consign him to the forces of the klipa which is here called
"evil," until He has separated his soul. This "separation"
implies certain restrictions G-d imposes on the forces of the klipa
concerning the soul of this person. G-d makes it a point to always set
some limits on the forces of destruction, even though He Himself allocated
to these forces the parameters within which they may operate.
Vayelech
"This nation will arise and stray after idols, etc."
(31:16)
How can Moses describe such a deviation as "a rising," instead
of as "a descent, a degradation?" Perhaps we may relate the
description "will arise" to 32:15 where Moses described the
Israelites as first waxing fat and as a result "kicking." Up
until that point Israel had been referred to as "Yeshurun."
At this point Moses pointedly speaks about "the people," the
common people rising . The coarsening of the Jewish people was due to
their material blessing which G-d had showered upon the nation deserving
of the distinctive appellation "Yeshurun."
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter
(W:51.52-62/Netsavim/Vayelech)
This Shabbat is very important for a few reasons. It is the last Shabbat
of the year and, therefore, an excellent opportunity to correct any lacking
in our Shabbat observance in the past year. It is also, the Shabbat preceding
Rosh Hashanah. Our behavior on Rosh Hashanah-'the HEAD of the year-determines
what will happen to us in the coming year, much as the head controls the
body. The Zohar (B'shalach) teaches that Shabbat is the vessel for blessings
of the week that follows it. Therefore, how we maximize this coming Shabbat
will have a qualitative impact on how we spend Rosh Hashanah, which will
in turn have a positive affect for the entire new year, G-d willing. It
is of utmost importance to plan in advance for this Shabbat, making it
as holy as possible, so that our behavior will be in tune with the day's
potential.
Clear hints to the above may be found in the first verse of Netzavim,
"You are standing today together all of you...." When the Jewish
people are united-"together all of you", it is like when children
love each other, and it is impossible for their father to deny them. The
word "today" hints to Rosh Hashanah. On Rosh Hashanah we are
judged by G-d. If we stand together, the decree will be the best. No other
possibility should be acceptable. Make every effort to practice ahavat
yisroel starting right now.
This past Monday was Chai (18th) Elul, the life-force of Elul. It is
also the birthdays of both the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic
movement, and Rabbi Schneur Zalman, founder of the Chabad movement. It
is also the beginning of the final 12-day count down to Rosh Hashanah.
A Chassidic tradition teaches us that each of the last twelve days of
the year refers to one of the corresponding 12 months of the previous
year. On each day we work to fix anything that may be lacking in the corresponding
month.
The Baal Shem Tov asks a question on a verse in Vayeilech, "When
all the blessings and curses described will happen to you, you will take
it to your heart and do tshuvah"(30/1). It is reasonable to
assume that when bad things happen, we will take stock of our actions
and do tshuvah. But why does the verse mention blessings also?
The Baal Shem Tov answers with an analogy of a villager who destroyed
a statue of the king. Instead of punishing him with death for treason,
the king gave him an influential position and consistently promoted him
until he was one of the king's chief advisers. The more he was showered
with good, the more the adviser saw the king's greatness and regretted
what he had done as an unsophisticated villager; he now understood how
he had been truly liable for punishment. This was precisely the king's
intention. Instead of enduring one punishment, the elevated villager suffered
a lifetime of regret, increasing more each time he was promoted. How could
he have done such a thing to the king? So it is with our verse. Sometimes
when a person sins, G-d punishes. But other times, even when deserving
of punishment, G-d will shower a person with kindness. How patient and
kind of the Almighty to sustain us, even as we rebel against Him. The
pain we feel should be even greater: 'How could we do such a terrible
thing to the Almighty!?' And when G-d sees this regret that His subject
is feeling, this is worth more to him than all of the punishments.
Shabbat Shalom,
Shaul
Stats: Netsavim
contains 0 positive mitzvot and 0 prohibitive mitzvot. Among
the Weekly Readings, Netsavim ranks 53 out of 54 in number
of verses, 52 in number of words, and 52 in number of letters;it
is written on 87 lines in a Torah parchment scroll, 52 in
overall length.
Veyelech contains 2 positive mitzvot and 0 prohibitive
mitzvot. Among the Weekly Readings, Vayelech ranks 54 out
of 54 in number of verses, 53 in number of words, and 53 in
number of letters;it is written on 72 lines in a Torah parchment
scroll, 53 in overall length.