Dear Friends;
This year’s Parshiyot Ki Tavo vort is being sponsored by Rabbi Eliezer and Esther Brodt of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim , as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Brodt family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShavua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
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We open this Ki Tavo vort with a citing from last week’s Parshat Ki Tetzei where Rabbi Hershel Reichman discusses Tzelem Keilokim and the individual in his Sefer, “Living the Chassidic Legacy: Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel” (pages 725 – 726) :
Shem Mishmuel explains that, according to Chassidus, at one level, all of Am Yisrael share a common universal soul which is called “yechida.” …. where all of Israel is united as a single soul. This is the highest level, in which all of us are united in the collective soul of Israel.
The Am Yisrael need a perfected Tzelem Keilokim in order for them to succeed in war and defeat their enemies. This is a function of the unity of the Jews across the world and throughout history…. This achdut, unity of Israel, is the deciding factor in the Jews’ victory in battle…. Only when we decide that we can unite with one another will we actually become one. This is how we can activate the… yechida, the dormant national identity of Israel. For the Jew, this is the key to success in war.
The Maharal explains that the Jews, paradoxically and tragically, have a very strong inclination to be individuals, split apart from one another. This is a function of the Jews’ soul. The superior intellect and our acute sense of emotion and spirituality emphasizes our individuality. Each of us is our own individual. Sometimes, this can unfortunately lead to the development of self-centered people, and a bravado and self-righteousness… These feelings then create the antithesis of unity.
We have an individuality which is a function of our individual abilities. However, this also interferes with the unity of Am Yisrael. The unity of the Jews is extremely important because it enables us to access our yechida, our universally shared soul. No one can achieve perfection without it.
When the Jews stood at Yam Suf, they saw the Egyptians coming to attack them and they were frightened. Hashem had told Klal Yisrael to expect an Egyptian attack. They panicked even though they knew that this would happen and Hashem would smite the Egyptians at the sea. [“VahY’dabeir Hashem El Moshe Leimor” — “Leimor = to say, go and say… I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will come after them. I will triumph over Pharaoh and his entire army, and Egypt will know that I am Hashem.” Rabbi Reichman referring to Sefer Shemot, Perek 14, posukim 1 -4 as rendered to English in “The Living Torah,” by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan]
Another example of Hashem’s use of “Leimor — to say, go and say” is in the third paragraph of Shema: Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 15, posuk 37 as rendered to English on on Chabad.org:
“The L?rd spoke [VahY’dabeir] to Moses, saying [Leimor]: Speak to the children of Israel and you shall say to them, that they shall make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations, and they shall affix a thread of sky blue [wool] on the fringe of each corner.”
Early on in our Parshat Ki Tavo, Torah relates these two posukim:
“Moshe and the elders of Yisrael commanded the people, saying [“Leimor”], ‘Observe the entire commandment that I command you this day.'” [Sefer Devarim Perek 27, posuk 1 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash]
“Moshe and the Kohanim, the Levites, spoke to all of Yisrael, saying [“Leimor”], ‘Be attentive and hear, O Yisrael: This day you have become a people to Hashem Keilokecha.'” [Sefer Devarim Perek 27, posuk 9 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash]
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides a commentary Sefer Devarim Perek 27, Posukiim 1 and 9 (pages 1072 – 1073) :
[Perek 27, posuk 1] Since Moshe would not be with them, and since a nation is guided by its respected leaders, he summoned the elders to join him in this proclamation.
[Perek 27, posuk 9] “This day you have become a people.” When Moshe gave his newly written Torah Scroll to the Levi’im for safekeeping (The Artscroll Chumash citing Sefer Devarim Perek 31, posuk 19), the rest of the nation protested, saying that someday the Levi’im might say that the Torah is theirs exclusively, and the rest of the people have no share in it. Moshe rejoiced at this demonstration of love and reverence for the Torah, because it proved that they had matured and became worthy of being called a people. (The Artscroll Chumash cites Rashi relating to Perek 29, posuk 3)
But Rabbi Reichman discusses another function of the word “Leimor,” as utilized in Sefer Devarim, Perek 27, posukim 1 and 9 in his Sefer, “Living the Chassidic Legacy: Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel” on our Parshat Ki Tavo (page 734) :
Shem Mishmuel explains… a Midrash that says angels [melachim] have no evil inclination. When Hashem tells them to do something, He only tells them once. One word from Hashem is enough. However, people have an evil inclination. So, when Hashem tells people to stop, He says it twice. Many posukim read, “VahY’dabeir Hashem El Moshe LeiMor.” “VahY’dabeir” and “Leimor” are said twice. Once is not enough because Moshe is not an angel. He was a human being and had a yeitzer hara, so he had to be told twice. This Midrash explains why we see this posuk so often in the Torah. Since Moshe was human, Hashem urged him twice to, or not to do, whatever He commanded.
As an aside, Rabbi Reichman’s second function of “Leimor” seems reminiscent (Adjective: awakening memories of something similar; suggestive) of a vort by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin on Parshat Emor. Rabbi Pliskin comments on the function discussed by Rabbi Reichman in a slightly different but similar way, and with a different form of speak: “Dabeir” in his sefer “Growth Through Torah” where he (Rabbi Pliskin) cites Rashi and comments regarding Sefer Vayikra.Perek 16, posukim 1 and 2 from Parsha Acharei Mos by explaining the effectiveness of not merely citing a fact, but providing examples to illustrate the fact cited as reinforcement of that fact (page 266) :
“Hashem spoke [ “VahY’dabeir”] to Moshe after the deaths of Aaron’s two sons. And Hashem said to Moshe: ‘Speak [Dabeir] to Aaron, your brother — he should not come at all times into the Sanctuary [HaKodesh]…so that he should not die.’” (Sefer Vayikra.Perek 16, posukim 1 and 2 as rendered to English in The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash]
Rashi cites… Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariya… [about] an ill person who is visited by a physician. The doctor said to him, “Do not eat such and such foods, and do not sleep in a damp place.” Then another physician came to him and said, “Do not eat such and such foods, and do not sleep in a damp place in order that you should not die like this certain person.” The second doctor will have a much stronger effect than the first doctor.
It seems that the loshen “Leimor” would serve at least a dual purpose: In Parshat Ki Tetzei, Rabbi Reichman illustrates how Hashem speaks to Moshe telling him to go and tell B’nei Yisrael His command. In Ki Tavo, the loshen “Leimor” seems a reinforcement of a command for the benefit of mortal human beings.
Halfway through our Parshat Re’eh, Torah informs us not to emulate the ways of nations who previously occupied the Land. Torah records:
“You are children of Hashem, your G’d — you shall not slash yourselves and you shall not make a bald spot between your eyes for a dead person. For you are a holy people to Hashem, your G’d…” [Sefer Devarim, Perek 14, posukim 1 – 2 rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Chumash]
Sefer Shem Mishmuel (Selections on the weekly parshiyot and festivals by Rabbi Shmuel Bornstein, the Rebbe of Sochaczev, rendered to English by Rabbi Zvi Belovski) provides this comment on Parshat Re’eh, which in part, delivers a message critical to Am Yisrael in our times. The Sochaczever Rebbe notes (page 396) :
These posukim [Sefer Devarim, Perek 14, posukim 1 – 2] seem to provide a straightforward message. Whenever someone dies, his relatives should not mutilate themselves because of their loss, since a Holy people do not conduct themselves in this way. Chazal see another, completely different Halacha [in the first of the two posukim]: “Do not slash yourselves” — do not form factions. (Sefer Shem Mishmuel citing Yevamos 13b)
Shem Mishmuel now provides a commentary regarding Chazal understanding of Halacha: the prohibition of forming factions (ibid, pages 397 – 398) :
Let us consider the other law which Chazal have derived from our posuk — the prohibition of forming factions [Noun: group sharing a belief or cause] within the Halachic system. This error stems from dispute and a lack of unity, where each person or group tries to assert his viewpoint to the exclusion of others. However, we are supposed to realize that at some level the souls of every member of Klal Yisrael are from the same root: we are all part of one spiritual entity. It is only the physical characteristics of our existence which differ from person to person. These physical differences give rise to diverse attitudes and needs, which can manifest themselves as dispute and factionalization. It should be clear that when one focuses inappropriately on the physical side of existence, the differences between people are emphasized and this leads to factionalization. In contrast, if one focuses on the spiritual side of things, one will gain a growing appreciation of the similarities between people and their very substantial common ground, This will automatically lead to unity.
It is fundamental to thought in Judaism that life continues on a higher plane after death and that the soul lives on in a higher realm. Self-mutilation reveals a level of grief which [mistakenly] indicates that one feels that the deceased is completely gone and that no trace of him remains at any level. The bereaved who slashes himself actually mutilates his body, indicating his feeling of loss for his relative’s physical body.
When someone dies, the soul no longer needs the body and it [the soul] returns to Hashem, while the body is buried. Excessive mourning, expressed by slashing oneself over the loss of the body, indicates a misunderstanding… The bereaved has the role of the body out of focus, mourning it as though it had a purpose of its own.
…Chazal did not arbitrarily connect the traditional prohibition of forming factions to the verse forbidding self-mutilation. These two issues are closely linked, as they both stem from the same basic flaw. If we focus on the physical aspects of life, this may lead to self-mutilation at the time of bereavement and to factionalization in the legal system. Conversely, focusing on the spiritual aims of life will help us put bereavement in its proper perspective and to avoid the pitfalls of a divided legal system.
So what does self-mutilation and the prohibition against forming factions have to do with the dual functions of “Leimor”?
This author views factionalism as diametrically (Adverb: completely; utterly, as in utterly opposed) opposed to Halacha and is, therefore, totally opposite of Hashem’s commands, through Moshe (Leimor), to Klal Yisrael and, therefore, is totally opposite of a state where, as Shem Mishmuel explained above, that even with each Jews’ individuality, “all of Israel is united as a single soul” when at war with an enemy (or enemies) or, in service of Hashem.
Rabbi Reichman notes, again, in his Sefer, “Living the Chassidic Legacy: Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel” on our Parshat Ki Tavo (pages 742 – 743) :
The Jewish nation is the first nation in the world… the first of Hashem’s harvest. We are the first of all nations. If the first is established properly, then everything else can model after that beginning. If the Jews have their spirituality and service of Hashem in order, then we can serve as a powerful model for the rest of the nations of the world. This is the primary mission of Am Yisrael, as Yeshayah 61 teaches, “You are priests of Hashem.” You will lead the world, and they will model themselves after you, just as the Jew models himself after the Kohen Godol in the Beit Hamikdash.
Beginnings are so important… Start. .. off the right way. Establish… places and times that focus on spirituality, on serving Hashem in holiness.
While our heroic Chayal warriors, of all sectors of Am Yisrael, have subordinated all personal priorities to the protection and security of Am Yisrael and the Land of Israel — each of them working towards perfecting their Tzelem Keilokim, the same may not be said of many false ideological and agendized members of the military high command echelons and agendized members of Knesset of many of the factional parties, as well as many of today’s hypocritical Shoftim and Shotrim.
And perhaps this factionalism even adversely affects the policies of our friends and Ally — President Trump and his administration and American policies toward current conflicts with Iran and the changing situations in Gaza.
May it be that our leadership — governing, judicial and IDF high command echelons, as well as kol Am Yisrael come to achieve a faithfulness and consistency in our avodah — both V’Ahavtah L’Arecha Kamocha, as One, and in our Service of Hashem, B’Ezrat Hashem
May our government and military bring about the total and complete, Final and Decisive victory over Hamas, their 7 October so-called “civilians(sic)” collaborators, Iran and the entire terror cabal, B’Yad Hashem, and become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.”
May we see, from here on, that border guard personnel at all points of possible danger are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May we see, with Operation Roaring Lions — the joint action by our Chayalim and the United States against the Mullahs of what has been the Islamic Caliphate dictatorship controlling Iran, that Islam and its barbarous terrorist tentacles of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, as well as Qatar, Turkey, the Houthies of Yemen, Pakistan, Iraq, Afganistan, possibly Egypt, and all who seek war against the Jews be totally eradicated, both in Israel’s neighborhood, as well as internationally, B’Ezrat Hashem. May we see a government of Israel secure in it’s foremost service of, and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael. May these words come to fruition B’Ezrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his sixth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. Baruch Hashem that all of the MIAs have been liberated and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman as well as the recoveries of the remains of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin from the Gaza War of ten years ago, and now Yehuda Katz.. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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