From TorahVort.com
Devarim
We are entering the fifth and final book of the Torah this week, Devarim! It is a book also named the ‘Mishneh Torah.’ The book features speeches of rebuke by Moshe, just five weeks prior to his death and the book recaps the journeys in the wilderness and features more than 70 new mitzvot!! Parshah Devarim starts off by relating how Moshe gathered all the people together and started off his rebuke to them. He spoke to the entire nation, in seventy different languages, mainly rebuking them for the sins that happened in their time in the wilderness. Moshe saw that this was the perfect time to rebuke them so that when they would enter the land under Joshua, they would know not to sin. Also as Moshe was about to pass away, taking rebuke from a man that is about to die is much easier than when they would constantly see him much after. After this rebuke, they took his words to heart big time and repented for the sins of their fathers. Moshe rebuked the Jews out of love, we learn from this rebuke that one would take rebuke much more to heart when the person rebuking is doing it for the love of the other person and not just so that he can make the other person feel bad. One should only rebuke another when they are calm and not angry also. All the people listening, were just children at the time of the opening sins in the wilderness, however they did also unfortunately take part or witness sins in the last year in the desert, including the transgression with the Moabite women. Moshe started off reproving the children of Israel for having delayed entry in to the land, He miraculously made a trip to Kadesh Barnea three days as opposed to a potential ten days, which we learned in parshat Bahaalotacha, however the Jews complained! Moshe then relates his disappointment in the Jews, just before the giving of the Torah, when they requested Judges and teachers as opposed to hearing the Torah directly from Moshe’s mouth, this we learned in Parshat Yitro. In the middle of the rebuke, Moshe paused and expressed his love by giving a beautiful and fruitful blessing before continuing the rebuke. Moshe then related how he appointed the judges and stated what a judge needs to attribute, including; the man needs to be learned in Torah and wise, he must be modest, G-d fearing, not attach too much importance to physical possessions and desires, must seek truth and justice, must be well liked and the potential judge must have a good reputation. Moshe then told off the children of Israel about the sin of the spies, which we learned about in parshah Shelach. He expressed his anguish that they believed the spies slanderous report and related how it extended their journey in the wilderness to forty years. Moshe relates the incident in Ma’afilim, which we also lean in Parshat Shelach; the Jews attempted to attack the Emorim against G-d’s wishes and lost their lives as the Emorim killed them. Next up, Hashem forbade the Jews to attack three nations, they were, Sair, Ammon and Moav. Sair is another name for Edom. The Jews were not allowed to attack them and invade their land as they were due a large reward from Hashem as they kept the mitzvah of honoring their fathers very well, we learn in Parshat Toldot how Eisav went to lengths to honor Yitzchak. The Jews were also not allowed to invade and attack the Ammonites and Moabites for several reasons. Lot was the father of both Moav and Ammon, he actually guarded a secret of Abraham and Sarah, when he did not relate to Pharaoh that Abraham was married to Sarah and played along with the story that they were brother and sister, this is what we learn in Parshat Lech Lecha, in turn by keeping quiet he saved the life of Abraham. Also righteous descendants were to come from Moav and Ammon, from Moav the righteous lady Ruth came from them and from Ammon, Naaman, the future wife of King Solomon and mother of King Rechavim was to be born. So Hashem kept these nations alive for their sakes. Moshe then related the conquest of the giant Sichon and his army. Moshe then related how he overcame the giant Og and conquered his kingdom, all under the providence of Hashem!! This we also learned in Parshat Chukat. Moshe then related the divisions of the East bank Jordan and his admonition of the two and half tribes, which we learned about in Parshat Mattot. Moshe continues his rebuke but it progresses into next weeks reading, so watch this space to find out what else he said. This Dvar Torah is dedicated in the merit of Miriam Bat Rachel getting better from health problems, please say Tehillim in her merit of getting better.
Dvar Torah – Shabbat Hazon (Haftorah - Isaiah Chapter 1 – Verses 1:27)
Shabbat Hazon is defined as the "Sabbath of Vision," and refers to Isaiah's vision of the destruction of the Temple, which is the Haftarah reading for this week (Isaiah 1:1-27). The Torah reading cycle is made so that the parshah with this Haftorah (Parshah Devarim) will occur on the Shabbat before Tisha B'Av, a fast day that commemorates the destruction of the Temple. This Shabbat, is known as Shabbat Hazon, after the opening words of the special Haftorah reading: "Hazon Y'Shayahu", "[This is] the vision of [the prophet] Isaiah".
This Haftorah is not connected or related to this week’s parshah, Devarim.
However, the rhythm of the Jewish calendar also helps to determine the Haftorah reading, as is the case this week. This Shabbat comes just before the mid-summer fast day of Tisha B'Av on which we remember the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. And we also commemorate the falling of Beitar and the death of the Jews in the wilderness due to the sin of the spies and also the Spanish Inquisition. This is the last of three special Haftorah's of "rebuke", in which the prophets warn the people to repent and do teshuva lest their sins bring national ruin.
Tisha B'Av (9th Av) was, throughout the years, a day of serious sorrow and reflective repentance. Many bad happenings occurred on this day as I stated above.
As we anticipate Tisha B'Av, we find the words of Isaiah, in the Haftorah, who lived around 150 years prior the destruction of the first temple, intense, angry, and accusatory. He states in one of the verses, "A sinful nation, a people burdened with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children that traffic in corruption. . .your country is desolate, your cities incinerated, your property consumed in your presence by an alien people." (Isaiah 1:4,7).
While Isaiah lived 150 years prior the Destruction, and is better known as the prophet of consolation, the commentaries notes that he, like Yirmiyahu, was active during the reign of four successive kings.
Isaiah actually doesn’t just lament that the temple would be destroyed, he laments over the underlying causes of the destruction. From his words of prophecy we learn that we must use the mourning period of the destruction of the temples as a way of initiating an examination on our present day feelings, thoughts and deeds. We have do find way of bettering ourselves in the way we serve Hashem and the way we treat our fellow man!!
We will be reading Chapter 1 of Isaiah, the verses one to twenty seven on Shabbat.
I am dedicating this Dvar Torah for ‘Binyamin Yonatan ben Layka,’ who is going to have operation in hospital, please everyone say Tehillim (psalms) in his merit of getting better and making a full and healthy recovery.
