Filed under: Charade, middot, righteousness, Rosh Hashanah, Torah Politics
Natazavim Bs”d
The parsha begins “You stand this day all of you before Yhv”h Elohech”a”. The sages say the day refered to here is Rosh Hashanah.
As every word of the Torah is precious. One can find so much meaning to its voice. Its written ” Not with you alone will I make this covenant and this oath; But with him who stands here with us this day before Yhv”h Elohech”a and also with him who is not here with us this day” (29:13-14). The Torah is Eternal as hinted by ” also with him who is not here with us this day”.
Its further written “you will enter into covenant with Yhv”h Elohech”a, and into his oath, which the Yhv”h Elohech”a makes with you this day. That He may establish you today for a Nation to himself “. This is what it is to be the Nation of Israel. The nation of Hashem. Who here makes a covanant with us. Concerning this Covenant a few verses later Hashem reminds us “It should come to pass, when one hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, Yhv”h will not spare him (18-20). But now standing in front of the Jewish people are noble men but they are not educated in Divine wisdom-Torah Knowledge. Many even naked of knowledge of Torah law. Only with knowledge is one given free choice. One would not know that the creator has forbidden growing two different types of plants close together unless one read this in the Torah. Then we know what to do. Without this knowledge there is not free choice. Without knowledge of the Torah one ends up with a different kind of life, so the generations changed. Most of us have heard stories of our religious ancestors. But a lack of Torah knowledge can rip away faith in the Divine God, the giver of the Law from generations. Creating a Jewish culture with different values not necessarily focused concerning piety, holiness, or respect for Torah, which is their heritage. Jewish youths found delight and closeness to God meditating on the Midrash (Ancient Jewish spiritual texts). When the House of learning Torah was the community gathering place. Today instead they gather at basketball games and parties. Yet the mitzvoth are not profane or ordinary, but they are Holy purifying and sanctifying the Jewish people revealing Godliness and also in all worlds. In a generation where every one wants to be part of the fad and fashion and no one wants to be left out. It is difficult to live as an individual with the uniqueness and distinctiveness of the one God and one people. Thus there is intermarriage, indifference and assimilation. Yet there are those that see Hashem as omnipotent and believe it is under his laws, values and concepts we must love. Others can be found among our people that do not believe in a God that is effected by man. It will be between these and those that the future of the Jewish people and The State of Israel will be decided. Will Jerusalem be a reflection of the Heavens of Holiness; this cannot be accomplished by secularism alone, nor by impassionate religion resulting from spiritual starvation, creating a comfortable convenient Judaism. Which is something like playing ” Charade “. The parsha concludes saying ” love Yhv”h Elohech”a, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may cleave to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days; that you may live in the land which Yhv”h swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
So let us all , as in this parsa accept upon ourselves the kingship of Hashem this RoshHashanah, and become the nation of Israel speaks of here in our parsha so that we may see the words in our parsha fulfilled “. And Yhv”h Elohech”a will put all these curses upon your enemies, and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.” (7:30) With the arrival of our righteous Mashiach quickly in our days.