Parshas Va'eschanan 5766

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

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After his opening remarks, Moshe continued his monologue to the Jewish people. He related how he had hoped after conquering the lands of Sichon and Og that G-d would relent from His decree and allow him to enter the Promised Land. The Midrash mentions that Moshe prayed 515 different prayers to be allowed to enter the land, but G-d would not relent. However, G-d instructed Moshe to climb a mountain and view the land from a distance.

This may have been Moshe’s way of warning the people to keep the mitzvos properly. Even Moshe, in all his greatness, was not allowed to realize his lifelong dream of entering the land because of a small deviation from fulfilling G-d’s exact words.

Moshe also instructed the people not to add or detract from the mitzvahs of G-d. The mitzvos can only exert their Divine influence upon a person when they are observed as the will of G-d. When a person subtracts from or adds to a mitzvah, for example by inserting five or three sections in the tefillin instead of four, they become the product of his own intellect rather than that of the A-lmighty’s, and they no longer have the same meaning.

Moshe also reminded the nation that only through keeping the mitzvos properly will they be able to earn the respect of their non-Jewish neighbors. The Torah and mitzvos themselves, despite their archaic, old-fashioned nature, are recognized as the eternal wisdom of the Jew.

The people were told that when they would enter the Promised Land they would find great abundance. However, they were warned not to succumb to the great challenges presented by prosperity. We must remember that all prosperity is a gift from G-d, and that it not lead them astray.

Moshe also prophesied that the nation would not always follow the Torah properly, and would turn to idolatry. They would then be led into exile among the other nations. In exile the people would see for themselves that no other nation has ever laid claim to the assertions of the Jewish people. No other nation has ever been freed from a country like Egypt, amidst all the wonders and miracles that the Jewish people experienced.

The purpose of all these wonders, and of the scattering in exile, is to impress upon the Jewish nation the omniscience of G-d and their responsibility to follow His commandments properly. This message is emphasized by the requirement to repeat the Shema, the Jew’s pledge of allegiance to G-d, twice each day. Only when this message is absorbed will the nation enjoy longevity and prosperity in their land.

“...and you shall teach them to your children... ” (Deut. 6:7)

The parents of a boy wanted to take him out of yeshiva in order to send him to work and ease the family’s financial burden. The Radomsker Rebbe called the couple in and said, “When G-d wanted to praise Abraham, he praised the fact that he instructed his children to follow the ways of righteousness and justice. Although Abraham had been willing to sanctify G-d’s Name by being thrown into a furnace and sacrifice his life, G-d found it more praiseworthy that he educated his children properly. Sacrificing material comforts so that a child may receive a good Jewish education is the greatest form of sanctifying G-d’s Name.”

Did You Know...

One’s hands are considered ritually impure upon waking in the morning until they are washed three times alternatively. One may not touch any of the body orifices before washing the hands.

It is similarly prohibited for a Jew to handle any food before ritually washing his hands in the morning, as it poses a spiritual danger. If one did touch food, it should preferably be rinsed off three times. If that is not possible, the food may still be eaten.

Food establishments must be careful that their Jewish employees wash their hands in the prescribed manner before handling food even if it is later in the day.