Overview
of the Weekly Reading
To be read on Devarim, 6 Menachem Av 5770/July
17th, 2010
Torah: Deut. 1:1-3:22
Haftorah: Isaiah 1:1-27 (3rd of the Three Haftorahs
of Affliction)
Pirkei Avot: Chapter
3
Devarim is the 1st Reading out of 11 in Deuteronomy
and it contains 5972 letters, in 1548 words, in 105
verses
Overview: All of the Book
of Devorim takes place in the last forty days of Moshe's
life. He begins by reviewing many of the Jews’ desert travels,
wars and conquests, the appointing of judges, the spies’ sin and the
nation’s subsequent punishment. G-d promises to help Yehoshua conquer
in the Land of Israel as He helped Moshe conquer the lands of the Emorites
and Bashan (the present day Golan) which were given to the tribes of
Reuven, Gad, and part of Menashe.
 An
essay from
Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(L:4470/Devarim)
(for a free
weekly email subscription, click
here)
This week's portion, Devarim, begins the fifth and final
book of the Torah. The book of Devarim is different than the previous
four books. Of it is said, "G-d's Presence speaking through the voice
of Moshe". The book of Devarim is Moshe's review of the events he
shared with the Jewish people, and a hint to us that we also must begin
to review our behavior of the last year and focus on improving, with the
advent of the new year soon to arrive. Therefore, it is especially important
that we identify the unique divine messages in these portions to prepare
us for the coming challenge.
It may not be so easy to find strong messages in this parsha, maybe because
it is always read during these days of spiritual darkness, the three week
mourning period concluding with the 9th of Av, connected to a number of
sad events, but particularly, the destruction of the holy Temple.
The Sfat Emet connects a famous teaching of the Baal Shem Tov to a verse
in this week's portion. Based upon the Rambam's writings, the Baal Shem
Tov explained how to behave in a situation where someone is doubtful how
to proceed. 'He should eliminate any self interest or personal agendas
from the pros and cons of the decision, thereby allowing himself to see
it in its correct light and revealing G-d's will.' This is the inner meaning
of the verse, (1/13) "The thing that is difficult for you, bring
it closer to me"-meaning bring it closer to its true source, the
will of the Creator. Then, any lack of clarity will fall away.
Summertime offers us relaxing vacations, family time, catching up special
hobbies or exercise, spending more time in Torah study and prayer, etc.
Vacation can help us 'recharge our batteries', re-connect with loved ones,
raise our spiritual caliber, and help us arrive refreshed back to work
in the fall. Figuring out how much time and energy to allot for our varied
summer pursuits can be confusing. When we remove our selfish interests
from the equation, (are we doing something for self-indulgence or relaxing
so we can be a better parent, worker, spouse, community volunteer, etc.),
and consider what will have the best resulting impact, then we can be
assured of making the holiest choice.
This Friday is the Hilula (anniversary of the passing) of the Ari. The
following is a story from Shivchei HaAri, the first (and only authentic)
collection of stories about Rabbi Yitzchok Luria (the Ari). There was
once a young man who was ill, and no doctor could cure him. Neighbors
suggested to the father that a spirit might have taken over his body.
This was hard for the father to believe. In general, he said, if there
is a bad fever, it is a sign that it is not a spirit. But when recovery
continued to elude the young man, the father brought his son to the Ari.
The Ari took the young man's pulse and said that was a spirit, "If
you don't believe me, I will force it to speak to you". Immediately
he decreed upon the spirit, and this is what it said, "My name is
Ploni ben Ploni. I have inhabited this person's body for twelve years."
"Why this person?" asked the Ari. The spirit answered that in
a previous incarnation, the young man had been a distributor of charity.
"I asked him for help two or three times, and he refused me until
I died from hunger." Because of this, I was granted Heavenly permission
to inhabit him since he was the cause of my death. And," the soul
continued, "I shall kill him". The Ari was able to drive out
the spirit, arguing that since the former distributor's soul was now incarnated
in a different body, it was a different person, and therefore he was no
longer responsible for his past life's behavior. Even so, the spirit made
his departure conditional. The story ends sadly. Nevertheless, there is
a clear teaching. Justice will be met, though not always when we expect
it. Let's beat the rush. Change our bad habits for the better now.
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul
P.S. Please also read
my weekly Shabbat Law, below.
(for a free weekly
email subscription, click
here)
For last year's essay
by Rabbi Leiter on this week's Reading, see the archive.
FROM
THE CHASSIDIC REBBES (V:4470/Devarim)
"These are the words which Moses spoke unto all Israel."
(1:1)
Deuteronomy begins with Moses chastising the Children of Israel for
their behavior. Would it not have been more fitting if only blessings
came from Moses, and any necessary rebuke come from the wicked Bilaam?
Why then, was this not the case? G-d knew that if Bilaam had rebuked
the Jews, they would have responded, "Well, what can you expect
from an enemy." And if Moses only blessed the Jews, the nations
of the world would have said, "Big deal. He is one of them, so
he gives them blessings." Therefore G-d decreed that the reverse
take place, that it be Moses who chastises the Jews and Bilaam who blesses
them, so that their words would be properly considered.
(Devarim Rabba)
For more than a decade of "From the Chasidic Rebbes" on this
Weekly Reading, see our archives
MOSHIACH
THIS WEEK (M:4470/Devarim)
"And I will restore your judges as at first and your counselors
as in the beginning; afterwards you shall be called City of Righteousness,
Faithful City. Zion shall be redeemed through justice and her penitent
through righteousness." (Isaiah 1:26-27)
For the previous five years of "Moshiach This Week" on this
Weekly Reading, see our archives
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the
Chabad Master series, produced
by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com
and www.kabbalaonline.org
For a free email subscription
to the Chabad Master series, click
here.
FROM
THE SAGES OF KABBALAH(K:4470/Devarim)
See our brand new
Kabbalah site, KabbalaOnline.org
Specifically, for
precious articles on the Weekly Parsha in the columns:
Holy Zohar, Holy Ari, Mystic Classics, Chasidic Masters, Contemporary
Kabbalists, and more,click to
Devarim
One Sample:
 Hide
and Seek
From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation
& commentary by Moshe Miller
The word "eicha" is the first word of the book of Lamentations,
read on the 9th of Av. It also appears in this Torah portion, read traditionally
the Shabbat before. A different word with the same spelling appears in
the verse spoken after Adam has eaten from the Tree of Knowledge of Good
and Evil. He knows he has done wrong and has hidden; afterwards, G-d banishes
both he and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
This parallels the destruction of the Temples and the exile of the Jews
from the Holy Land. Just as the Garden of Eden was left bereft, so will
Jerusalem be as a result of failing to heed His word.
To continue, click here.
For a free email subscription to our weekly anthology, click
here.
For another sample
of recommended Kabbalah articles on a variety of subjects,
click to the
our
weekly Kabbalah magazine
this week's:
 KOL
Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 41
Sunday night-Monday is "Rosh Chodesh" (New Moon
Day of the month of) Menachem-Av, which is also the yahrzeit of Aharon,
the brother of Moses and the first High Priest.
This Shabbat is called "Shabbat of Vision" (see the "vision"
article below), the Shabbat which always precedes Tisha B'Av.
In Tsfat it is also called "Shabbat of the Holy Ari," because
Thursday night-Friday, 5 Av (July 15-16) is the yahrzeit of Rabbi YITZCHAK
LURIA, the HOLY ARI,
the famous Kabbalist of the golden age of Tzefat [Safed] in the 16th century,
whose teachings influenced the Chasidic movement and dominate the study
of Kabbalah today (see the first four articles and the last).
Sample:
 The
Holy Ari
By Moshe Miller
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria was undisputedly the greatest practitioner and expounder
of Kabbala since Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar. Rabbi Yitzchak
Luria founded a new school in Kabbalistic thought, known as “the
system of the Ari.”
To continue, click here
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