Shalom Friends;
This week, our Parshat HaShavua, Nitzavim is being sponsored by Sender and Shoshana Schwartz (senderpc@gmail.com of Now My PC Works) of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim, the liberation of all remaining hostages as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael and Davening for All of Am Yisrael to be inscribed for A Shana Tova. To the Schwartz 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
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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Our Parsha Nitzavim opens with Moshe Rabbeinu gathering together and every member of Am Yisrael, from the most exalted — the leaders, heads of the tribes (Sh’vatim), elders, judges, officers of the courts, the women, through to Ger Tzaddikim, and to the lowliest, covering all ages and addressing them on the final day of his life:
“Atem Nitzavim HaYom… You are standing today, all of you, before Hashem, your G’d [Keilokecha] …. So that you pass into the Covenant of Hashem, your G’d [Keilokecha] and into His oath which Hashem, your G’d [Keilokecha] contracts with you today, in order to establish you today as a people to Him and that He be to you a G’d, as He spoke to you and as He swore to your fathers, to Avraham, to Yitzchak and to Yaakov. And not with you alone do I contract this covenant and oath, but with whoever is here, standing with us today before Hashem, our G’d [Keilokeinu] and with whoever is not here with us today.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posukim 9-15 as rendered to English by Rabbi Shmuel Goldin in his sefer “Unlocking The Torah Text,” page 307)
Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, z’l provides commentary on Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posukim 14 – 15 in his sefer, “Kol Dodi” (page 287) :
“And not with you alone do I make this covenant and oath, but with whoever is here with us today before Hashem, our G’d, and with those who are not with us today.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posukim 14 – 15 rendered to English in sefer “Kol Dodi”).
Rashi explains that those who are not with us today, refers to future generations. Thus the Covenant which Moshe forged between Hashem and the people is obligatory on Jews of all times, not only on those who were present.
The neshamah (soul) of a child is mature from birth and is fully capable of entering into such a bond; it was those souls which Moshe brought into the Covenant. Similarly, while the future generations were not present, the genetic base that would later produce them was present in the persons of that generation of Jews. That was sufficient to create a national commitment that was binding on future generations as well.
The Artscroll Stone Chumash, picks up from Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posuk 17 through Perek 30, posuk 5:
“Perhaps there is among you a man or woman, or a family or tribe, whose heart turns away… from being with Hashem, Keilokecha, to …serve the gods of the nations… And it will be that when he [or those indicated] hears the words of this imprecation [noun: a curse], he will bless himself in his heart, saying, ‘Peace be with me, though I walk as my heart sees fit’…. Hashem will erase his name from under Heaven. Hashem will set him aside from among all of the tribes of Yisrael, like all of the imprecations of the covenant that is written in …the Torah.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posukim 17 – 20)
“The later generation will say — your children who arise after you and the foreigner who will come from a distant land — when they will see the plagues of the Land and its illnesses with which Hashem has afflicted it; ‘Sulfur and salt, a conflagration [noun: a destructive fire, usually an extensive one] of the entire Land, it cannot be sown, and no grass shall rise up on it….’ And all the nations shall say, ‘For what reason did Hashem do so to this Land; why this wrathfulness of great anger?'” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posukim 21 – 23)
“And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Covenant of Hashem, the G’d of their forefathers, that He sealed with them when He took them out of Egypt; and they went and served the gods of others and prostrated themselves to them — gods that they knew not… So Hashem’s anger flared against that Land, to bring upon it the entire curse written in this Book; and Hashem removed them from upon their soil, with anger, with wrath, and with great fury, and He cast them to another land, as this very day!” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posukim 24 – 27)
“The hidden [sins] are for Hashem, Keilokeinu [our G’d], but the revealed [sins] are for us and our children forever, to carry out the words of this Torah.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posuk 28)
“It will be that when all these things come upon you — the blessing and the curse… — then you will take it to your heart among all the nations where Hashem, Keilokecha, has dispersed you; and you will return to Hashem, Keilokecha, and listen to His voice, according to everything that I commanded you today, you and your children, with all your heart and all your soul. Then Hashem, Keilokecha, will bring back your captivity and have mercy upon you, and He will gather you in from all the peoples to which Hashem, Keilokecha, has scattered you…. Hashem, Keilokecha, will gather you in and from there He will take you. Hashem, Keilokecha, will bring you to the Land that your forefathers possessed and you shall possess it; He will do good for you and make you more numerous than your forefathers.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 30, posukim 1 – 5)
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides commentary on Perek 29, posuk 18 (pages 1088 – 1089) :
Posuk 18: “Peace will be with me.” This is the source of disaster: the delusion that “peace will be with me, so I can do as I wish without fear. calamities can only befall other people.” The Chofetz Chaim used to say that many seem to base their lives on the foolish notion that certain kinds of people are prone to die, but not them — they are immune from physical or spiritual death.
In his sefer,”Growth Through Torah, “Rabbi Zelig Pliskin highlights posuk 18 as follows and provides commentary (pages 451 – 452) :
Do not justify wrong behavior by claiming it is your philosophy or policy.
Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman used to quote his Rebbe, the Chofetz Chaim, that this refers to someone who doesn’t just do an improper act because of an impulse. Rather, he makes an entire ideology out of cruelty and the right to harm others. As we read in posuk 19, this is a most serious offense. [“Hashem will not… forgive him, for Hashem’s anger… will smoke against that man, and the entire curse written in this book will come down upon him, and Hashem will erase his name from under Heaven.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posuk 19 excerpted from The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)] It is not that the person just happened to do something wrong. Rather, he makes a whole new set of rules for himself that are diametrically opposed to Torah principles. (Rabbi Pliskin citing Kovetz Maamorim, page 85)
The Artscroll Stone Chumash provides a commentary on Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posuk 28, page 1086 and 1087, citing Or HaChaim and page 1090 citing Rashi and Ramban:
Moshe speaks to them about their enduring “responsibility for one another [in every generation], under which every Jew is obligated to help others observe the Torah and to restrain them from violating it.” (Citing Artscroll Stone Chumash commentary, page 1086) This is why Moshe began by enumerating all the different strata of people who stood before him and why he said that Hashem would not hold them responsible for sins that had been done secretly, but that they would be liable for transgressions committed openly.” (Cited from the Artscroll Stone Chumash, Sefer Devarim, Perek 29, posuk 28, citing Or HaChaim)
This is essential to the world view of the Jew, for it explains why one may not be apathetic to the shortcomings of others and why public desecrations of the Torah are of concern to every Jew…
Midrashically, when the people heard the frightening litany of ninety-eight curses in the Admonition [Referring to Sefer Devarim, Perek 28], they turned colors with fright at what seemed to be a hopeless future. Moshe comforted them, saying that despite all of the sins of the past, they were still standing… before Hashem. Just as he had not discarded them before, so He would maintain them in the future. Fear of the Admonition would prevent them from sinning. And if they did sin, the punishments would bring them atonement, not destruction. (The Artscroll Stone Chumash citing Rashi)
Moshe reassures the nation that the hidden sins are the province of Hashem alone, and He holds noone responsible but the sinners themselves. But everyone is obligated to safeguard the integrity of Israel against openly committed sins. (Artscroll Chumash citing Rashi and Ramban) Ramban adds that the verse also refers to sins hidden from the perpetrator himself, for often…people sin out of ignorance of the law or the facts of a situation. Such sins belong to Hashem [as] … He does not hold them against the sinner. (The Artscroll Stone Chumash citing Rashi)
What speaks to this author regarding Perek 29, posuk 18, and actually Perek 29, posuk 17 through Perek 30, posuk 5 are how these posukim relate to the catastrophic war on multiple fronts, as Rabbi Pliskin citing Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman who often quoted the Chofetz Chaim as saying that one doesn’t act improperly on impulse, but rather his actions are based on an entire ideology of cruelty and the right to harm others. Consider how factions of Am Yisrael acted, often violently, against legislation which aimed at judicial reforms, such as certain reservists who threatened to ignore call-up orders and certain air force pilots who threatened not to fly. These reforms would have, for example, resulted in the judiciary being accountable to the people through, such legislation which would bring about governmental appointment of judges at all levels, rather than the current reality where committees of attorneys appoint the judiciary. This divisive ideology of this factions exposed national disunity for all of our enemies, and the whole world, to see thus jeopardizing our security and military credibility. And consider how certain factions continue to act disruptively, and often violently, i.e. Kaplan Group, and others who have hijacked segments of the hostage families under the guise of recovering the remaining hostages whatever the cost when, in fact they seek to topple the current government in the midst of our war of survival — Milchemet shel Torah.
Also, consider the arrogance of the military high command in first ignoring, and then threatening and intimidating the border observers, who saw Hamas’ preparations for imminent attacks into Israel, with court martial and other legal proceedings.
Israel’s fresh victory-oriented strategies in Gaza and attacks in Iran which demolished much of their nuclear facilities, scientists, military leadership, ballistic missiles and ballistic missile manufacturing facilities exemplify positive changes resulting from the appointments of a new defense minister and foreign minister. The pre-emptive actions against Iran are nothing short of miraculous, B’Yad Hashem.
However, the newly appointed military chief of staff, who seemed to be signaling a more zealous, diligent command structure and strategy based on valid understandings of their adversary’s intentions and concern for Israel’s sovereignty and security upon his appointment, now seems to be following in the footsteps of his predecessor in calling for an end to the war in Gaza short of complete victory and eradication of Hamas, i.e. snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and quite possibly sentencing the remaining living hostages to death to boot.
May our government and military 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.” And may 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 a Final and Decisive victory by our Chayalim, eradicating Hamas, Islamic Jihad, those so-called “civilians(sic)” who collaborated on 7 October, as well as Hezbollah, the Houthies, the Mullahs of Iran and all their terror accomplices while liberating all remaining hostages, B’Yad Hashem and mandated by a government 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’Esrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif e 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 fifth 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. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as 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 recovery of the remains of Oron Shaul as should the remains of the other chayal from the Gaza War of ten years ago. 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 see, in 5785, the REAL Jews from the Ukraine and Russia as well as the US and Canada, the real Jews via matrilineal descent, make Aliyah enmass — via thorough review by Misrad HaPanim. And may we soon and finally see the total end to the Communist Chinese Wuhan Lab corona virus pandemic and all like viruses and variants. 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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