Parashas Eikev

At the beginning of this week’s parashah, Moshe transmits Hashem’s reassurances to Klal Yisrael not to fear the Canaanite nations they will be battling as they conquer Eretz Yisrael.

He reminds them of the “Mighty Hand and Outstretched Arm” with which Hashem had taken them from Egypt and of the many miracles they had experienced since then, and Hashem’s pledge to do the same for them as they take control of the Land.

Wonderful. Great. Yetzias Mitzrayim was a magnificent one-day event (even with the makkos it took a year). They had made short shrift of Sichon and Og. So they would take over Eretz Yisrael quickly, right?

Not quite.

Hashem will remove these nations from before you very slowly, you cannot destroy them quickly, for the animals of the field may overcome you… In fact, it was a process that would take seven years.

Klal Yisrael was now changing tracks, from a Nation living on constant open miracles to a Nation living on a different plane. As Rashi (v. 22) explains, if the Jews were not to sin, they would have been able to overtake the Land quickly. But Hashem foresaw that this was not to be.

So the Torah tells us – in advance: It will take time. It may not go smoothly. But be assured, Hashem’s Mighty Hand and Outsretched Arm are there.

The seven-year conquest of the Land is no less Hashem’s guiding Hand than the instant victories over Sichon and Og. The Maker of all miracles is bringing this all about, and it’s for your benefit.

What a message of encouragement!

Whatever the challenge, if we are doing what is right, Hashem is with us, controlling the progress and the outcomes. We may not feel his presence, but He is there. It may take time and there may appear to be setbacks, but it is all His doing. We may not understand it, but it if for our benefit.

In the merit of our bitachon, may we merit to see His open berachos and yeshuos.

Gut Shabbos.

Parashas Va'Eschanan - Shabbos Nachamu

Parashas Va’eschanan is always read on Shabbos Nachamu, “the Shabbos of Consolation” that follows Tisha B’Av. Indeed, our parashah recounts our receiving the Torah, offering inspiration and strength as we recover from our national tragedy of churban Bayis.

Why, then, does the Torah begin with the discouraging and disconcerting episode of Hashem’s refusing to allow Moshe to enter Eretz Yisrael?

One lesson may be that, when we face Hashem’s punishment and wrath, we not be dejected, but move forward in the knowledge that He still loves us.

There were 6 arei miklat, cities of refuge, where one who killed accidentally could run for haven. Three were located in Trans-Jordan – where the Jews were encamped at the time of this parashah – and three were in the mainland of Eretz Yisrael, which was not conquered until years later. Although those in Trans-Jordan would not be functional until those in Eretz Yisrael were established, later on in the parashah, Moshe establishes the three cities he could. He wasn’t disheartened – he moved on, doing what he could. Klal Yisrael would go on, and he would be as much a part of it as possible.

The seventh day of our shivah for Tisha B’Av is Tu B’av. The culmination of the most awesome period of the Jewish year is Yom Kippur.

And it is those very days that were the most festive days on the calendar, celebrated by maidens going out to attract husbands (Taanis 26b).

We sit homebound and overcome by mourning. We quake in fear as we stand in judgment before the

Heavenly Court

. But we do not remain paralyzed. We emerge – we “go out” – confident in a brighter future, a future represented by building new homes and families.

It is a future grounded in our abiding faith in the One Above – to Whose justice we were just subject.

As we emerge from the mourning of this year’s Tisha B’Av, may we go forward to achieve and accomplish all that we can, confident in a bright future for Klal Yisroel and in the hope that next year we will celebrate Tisha B’Av b’vias goel.

Gut Shabbos.

Parashas Devarim - Shabbos Chazon

This week’s haftorah, which is read in the mournful chant of Eichah, is, with the possible exception of that of Tishah B’Av, the haftorah I find most terrifying.

Yeshayahu vividly describes Hashem’s utter rejection of klal Yisroel, His revulsion at their attempts at avodah. They seem to be doing mitzvos, but they are doing them all wrong.

Suddenly, in middle, the navi changes his tone – as reflected in our own change of tune to that of the standard haftorah:  רַחֲצוּ הִזַּכּוּ...אִם יִהְיוּ חֲטָאֵיכֶם כַּשָּׁנִים כַּשֶּׁלֶג יַלְבִּינוּ..., Wash yourselves, become purified…if your sins will be as red strings, they will become as white as snow….

But it lasts for only several verses before it once again turns mournful – If you refuse... – and the litany of woe resumes.

Then, the tone changes again, this time with no apparent reason. The navi describes the corruption of the self-appointed leaders and judges, and suddenly turns around, ending with a message of hope and redemption: לָכֵן נְאֻם הָאָדוֹן ד' צְבָקוֹת אֲבִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל הוֹי אֶנָּחֵם מִצָּרַי וְאִנָּקְמָה מֵאוֹיְבָי. וְאָשִׁיבָה יָדִי עָלַיִךְ...צִיּוֹן בְּמִשְׁפָּט תִּפָּדֶה וְשָׁבֶיהָ בִּצְדָקָה., Therefore – the Word of the Lord, Hashem, Master of Legions, Might of Israel – O! I will be relieved of My oppressors and be avenged of My enemies. I will return My Hand over you …  Zion will be redeemed through justice, and its captives through charity.

What “therefore” precipitates this turnaround – the corruption and vice?

The Gemara (Berachos 17a) cites R’ Alexandri who would beseech Hashem: “It is known to You that we want to do Your Will. What holds us back? ‘The leaven in the dough’ (the Yetzer Hara) and the oppression of the nations, May it be Your Will that you save us from them and will return to perform Your Service wholeheartedly.”

Perhaps the message is that, at the very end, there will come times when everything will have run completely amok; when the situation seems beyond repair.

Therefore, says Hashem, this is the point at which I have to intervene. I will relieve Myself of My oppressors (the nations that oppress Klal Yisrael) and avenge myself of My enemies (the Yetzer Hara who dissuades people from serving Hashem).

When He does that, we will all begin to serve Him wholeheartedly, so that He returns His hand over us, and that Yerushalayim is once again called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful Village.

May we merit His Kindness, so that we can spend this Tuesday celebrating together in the streets of Yerushalayim.

Gut Shabbos.