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Minhalev- Eikev 5770By: Moshe GreenspunDate: 2010-07-30
This week’s Parsha is sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon Seidman,Brooklyn NY, li’lui nishmas Yosef Mordechai ben Shlomo Zev, a”h, on the day of his hakamas matzevah (Av 19)
Gain without Pain
Understanding Consequence
Chumash Devorim begins with Moshe’s rebuke to Bnei Yisroel recounting the mistakes and sins that we committed as a nation. Uncomfortable as it may be, rebuke is a necessity in life and certainly for a people who are committed to be “a light unto the nations”. Parshas V’eschanan and Eikav continue with this theme, and elaborate on the idea of reward, punishment and consequence. Let’s try to understand these ideas in greater detail.
Parshas Bichukosai seems to strike a raw nerve in the minds of most Torah conscious people. The overly descriptive and utterly devastating punishments described to us are simply unfathomable. Who would have imagined that our own parents and grandparents experienced every demoralizing affliction, every dehumanizing curse prophesized in the Torah. The concept of divine punishment is indeed a difficult subject to discuss – certainly when being summarized in a short essay.
Not that we are immune to the concept of retribution or consequence, after all, many countries in the world, including the United States, which is the trailblazer on humanitarian issues, still uphold the death sentence. Some countries today still preserve even the most brutal executions ever imagined. But even if this wasn’t the case, we can perfectly understand that there has to be consequences for our actions, law and order in society, if we want to conduct a peaceful and successful existence.
The Tochacha
If so, why are we so uncomfortable with the idea of divine retribution; upon hearing the thunderous crack of the Torah’s Tochachah? Why do the feelings of contempt and dismissal invade our conscience when contemplating the idea of divine justice, but seem to agree with our stomachs when watching an axe murderer get fried in the electric chair? A silent protest nests in our heart. We feel that G-d’s ultimatum for our scholarly shortcomings is way out of hand. We ask ourselves the obvious and most puzzling question: All this suffering and devastation simply because we didn’t exert the proper effort in Torah study the way we ought to have done?
“And if you ignore My call and refuse to abide by all these commandments; if you repulse My ways and find My statutes repelling and [therefore decide to] disregard them and not do them, I too, will do this to you. I will infuse you with panic, swelling lesions and burning fever… you will be struck down before your enemies; those that hate you will subjugate you… (Vayikrah 26:14)
Rashi comments based on the Midrash, that finding the ways of G-d ‘repulsive’ is a reference to an apathetic attitude in ameilus ba’torah – exertion in Torah study. Even if one was to have studied the entire Torah and its laws, achieved numerous levels of smicha and scholarship and commit his life to practicing the Mitzvos, his fulfillment of responsibility to G-d would still fall short. The fact of the matter is that as long as a person is alive and kicking he is obligated to immerse himself in intense Torah study - even when his ‘wall of fame’ lacks the space for yet another walnut-framed certificate of excellence – even when his personalized rubber stamp is replete with testimonial suffixes of scholarly achievement. Ameilus ba’torah is not a virtuous character trait, a respectful hobby for the retiree or another intellectual challenge for the mentally stimulated – it is a perpetual commitment to study the Da’as Elyon and commit oneself to act upon that knowledge. And according to Rashi it carries some very heavy weight.
The Committed Jew
However, the Ramban has a different opinion concerning the fiery prophesies of the Tochacha.
“The Mitzvos of the Torah that lack logical explanation are readily [and understandably] challenged by the scorners of our nation. They proclaim: ‘Why should we refrain from wearing wool and linen? How can purification through the ashes of the Red Cow possibly accomplish anything?’However, the Torah’s civil laws are fully accepted by our people, everyone agrees with them, [because] they know fully well that without these laws there can be no social stability or proper civil conduct…But when it comes to other civil Torah laws that severely punish the offender, such as, illicit relationships, the desecration of Shabbos observance and the practice of idolatry, one becomes enraged by these doctrines; they are viewed as commandments which are burdensome [and unjustifiable]. This is what the Torah means when it states “and if you find My statutes disgusting and My laws despicable” – by [causing yourself to] despise these [particular] laws you ultimately give credence to the lack of their observance”.
The Ramban is telling us that our problem with G-d’s retribution doesn’t stem from a failure to accept punishment and consequence even for spiritual matters, rather our problem originates with our lack of trust for the Torah’s opinion of truths and reality.
The society that we live in is built on the social contract theory, as we’ve discussed in previous essays. This means that proper conduct such as, right and wrong, do’s and don’ts are gauged by society’s moral yardstick, and what ever falls short of those measurements are left out of society’s ‘to do list’. When the pursuit of freedom and happiness are of paramount importance then Shabbos observance takes the back seat. I can’t be expected to hold a senior position at a top law firm, be responsible for my family’s needs, enjoy my leisure time, and still make it home in time for candle lighting – under pressing conditions one of the two will just have to give way. If freedom of religion is at the core of my beliefs then I can’t possibly agree with stoning a fellow Jew who chooses to practice another religion, in fact, I will be infuriated by such an undeserving penalty. If love conquers all and relationships are fused through emotional and physical channels, then how could someone possibly be accountable for marrying a gentile woman? Certainly, the secular courts would laugh these crimes out of the court house.
A Personal Prayer
When our minds and hearts are attuned with the Torah’s truths then we have no problem with G-d’s decisions in the world. Most of us want to have a genuine connection to G-d with all His laws and decrees, yet, still maintain a happy, satisfying and productive life. The reason we have an issue with all this is because we’ve been trained for so many generations how to think – and even more so - how not to. The Talmud recounts numerous Amoraim that beseeched G-d with a personal prayer at the end of the traditional Shmona Esrie Tefillah. There is a fascinating request from one of the Amorim that expresses this idea.
“Rav Alexandre would add a [personal] prayer and say: ‘Master of the world, it is revealed before you, that our will is truly to do Your Will, but what is preventing us? The Seor Sheba’isah and the influence of our governments! It should be Your Will that You redeem us from their hands and we may, once again, comply with Your statues with a complete heart.’” (Berochos 17a)
History has documented the many pogroms and physical persecutions that our nation has gone through. Millions of Jews have given their lives in sanctifying G-ds’ name, but how many of us have sanctified G-ds’ name by simply living. The prayer by this Amorah was for the living to continue to live with the truths of the Torah, despite the overbearing influence of a hedonistic world. The power of our Evil Inclination is constantly being fueled by the influence of our surroundings. Our golus has had a profound effect on our psyche, especially the golus that we are experiencing right now.
The ‘media machine’ tells us that for just $19.99, you too, can have all your dreams fulfilled – with free shipping. With the click of a button, all your fantasies can come true – “just give us 22 minutes and we’ll give you the world” was our anthem. But these catchy slogans and baited attractions are part of a much larger philosophy; something that we might call – Pleasurism. If you like it – we can supply it! Just add it to the ‘wish list’.
When we accustom ourselves to this style of life then anything that remotely contradicts it is considered taboo. Our very own Torah laws appear to be overly invasive, archaic and irrelevant, unattractive and even –repulsive. It is of no wonder at all why we question G-d’s response to our newly found beliefs. The deafening sound of the Tochacha is a form of communication – not an exhibit of His power and capability to inflict pain. Divine punishment is not meant to cause harm, it is meant to educate. If we lend our ears to the Torah’s truths then these terrible prophesies won’t have to materialize.
Good Shabbos! |
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