Today we are starting the reading of the final book of the
Torah known as D’varim, or as we might call it in English, Deuteronomy. This book is also known by another name,
Mishneh Torah, the second telling of Torah material but this time in the words
of Moshe, rather than in the words of G-d.
In fact, this retelling is told in the first person.
We know that one of the things mentioned in this Book of
Torah is that if there is to be a king who rules the people, that individual is
required to write for himself this sefer Torah and to carry it with him at all
times as a reminder that G-d is the ultimate ruler.
We also know that not every part of the previous 4 books in
the Torah is repeated in D’varim by Moshe.
For example there is no mention from Leviticus about the priestly
service nor the laws about the Tabernacle.
In addition, there are 100 laws that are mentioned in sefer D’varim for
the first time.
When Ramban (Nachmanides) commented on the lack of mention of
the book of Leviticus, he noted that the Kohanim (priests) didn’t need to hear
those rules twice. They were individuals
who were anxious to serve G-d and understood the directives the first
time. When he commented on the 100 new
laws, he mentioned that they were not new at all. Instead they had been given with the other
513 commandments at Har Sinai and relayed informally in the wilderness to the
people. Now they were merely being
formally recorded by Moses.
The Book of Deuteronomy also has a large portion dedicated to
what is known as the TOCHECHA/rebuke.
Moses in effect is giving a pep talk not based totally on positives, but
based on remembering the sins of the people in the wilderness in order to avoid
the same actions when entering the land 40 years later. Perhaps some of you have approached a child
who has done wrong and reminded them:
“Now remember how you_______________, you don’t want to do that again,
so remember to _______________instead. Avoiding
the pitfalls that happened in the past is part of Moses’ message.
The Book of Deuteronomy is part of the transition of Torah
being given at Sinai by G-d to the receiving of Torah in the wilderness. Just as the king was instructed to take
responsibility for carrying it with him, the people are being given the
responsibility for living a specified way.
In the wilderness, G-d provided all for them. There was manna, the pillar of fire and the
cloud to guide them…all part of G-d’s full-service help. Now that Moses is passing on the words in his
own literary voice, he is showing that people must take greater responsibility
for receiving the Torah. He is speaking
as a moral teacher.
Sefer D’varim is always read prior to Tisha B’Av. Why?
Some say it is because it tells the story of the spies who showed lack
of faith in G-d. It speaks of the nation
recognizing its sins, taking responsibility for its actions and returning to
G-d in the kind of partnership that is required in order to enter the Land of
Israel.
Rav Kook reminds us that Dvarim is no longer just the book
that a king must carry with him, but one that must belong to all of us because
the power of the king is now vested in the power of the people. It is a book that is essential for us to
learn in order to build a democratic Jewish society. D’varim reminds us that the Torah that was
given to us is now our responsibility for learning and doing.
Shabbat Shalom.
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