I Hear The Cries Of Children And The Other Songs Of War (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Standing on the Moon")

Recently, two tragic events took place in Israel that left Israeli society, and much of the Orthodox Jewish world asking questions and condemning the perpetrators. However the condemnation was not directed at Hamas, or the Palestinian people. The condemnation was not even directed at secular Israelis. Rather the condemnation was directed at the politically extreme and socially intolerant segment of the Haredi Orthodox community.  First, a politically right wing Israeli settler extremists burned down a Palestinian home. An 18 month old baby and three other family members were asleep in the house. The baby was burned to death and the other three are in serious condition. A few days later, at the Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem, an Orthodox Jew, with a violent history and had been incarcerated ten years ago, attacked six people. One teen age girl recently died from the stab wounds. Segments of Israeli society have called both attacks, “terrorism”. Segments of Israeli society, including Police, parts of the Netanyahu Coalition, and the Modern Orthodox community have condemned both acts. Prime Minister Netanyahu even visited the Palestinians who were hospitalized because of their burns. The government has publicly stated that the perpetrators will be punished to the full extent of the law.

This coming Shabbat we read from Parsha Eikev. Here in his second discourse, Moshe explains to the new generation how the second set of tablets that contain the Aseret Dibrot (The Ten Commandments) came into being. He explains how God forgave their parents of their idolatrous behavior in regards to the Eigel Zahav (Golden Calf), and all B’nai Yisroel must do essentially refrain from Idolatry, serve God, worship God, and the nation will be rewarded with water, grass and quality lives. Moshe also reminds B’nai Yisroel that they have nothing to fear when they enter into Canaan and conquer the land even though they maybe outnumbered, because God has already demonstrated that he will protect his people. He did so during the Yetziat Mitzrayim (Exodus), and as long as B’nai Yisroel keeps its side of the B’rit, God will continue to protect his people.

                During this discourse, Moshe reminds this generation of the context of its inevitable inheritance of Eretz Canaan. Al Tomar Bilvavcha Hashem Elokecha Otam Milfanecha Leimor B’Tzidkati Hevi’ani Hashem LaReshet et Ha’Aretz HaZot.  Do not say in your heart, when Hashem, your God, pushes them away from before you, saying, “Because of my righteousness did Hashem bring me to possess the Land U’Virashat HaGoyim HaEilah Hashem Morisham Mipanecha – and because of the wickedness of the nations did Hashem drive them away from before you. Lo V’Tzidkatcha UvYosher  Levavcha – Not because of your righteousness and the uprightness of your heart…. U’LeMaan Hakim et HaDavar Asher Nishba Hashem La’Avotecha L’Avrahem, L’Yitzchak U’LaYaakov – rather in order to establish the word that Hashem swore to your forefathers: Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. V’Yadata Ki Lo V’Tzidkatcha Hashem Elokecha Notein Lecha et Ha’Aretz HaTovah HaZot L’Rishtah Ki Am Kshei Oref Atah And you should know that not because of your righteousness does Hashem Your God give you this good Land to possess it, for you are a stiff-necked people. (Deut. 9:4-6). Moshe essentially tells this generation that they don’t deserve the land. They are neither righteous enough to inherit the land nor are they “upright in their hearts” enough to inherit the land. As it stands now, the generation that stands before Moshe is, to put it diplomatically, a work in progress at best. Rather Moshe tells this generation that they are the beneficiaries of the Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s relationship and covenant with God.  Rashi, the 11th Century French commentator, explains that any success this generation enjoys in terms of entering the land has nothing to do with their behavior rather it is spite of their behavior that they inherit. All benefits are a result of God’s covenant, God’s brit, with Abraham Isaac and Jacob.

                Here we are thousands of years later. We still need to be reminded that we don’t inherit Israel because we are so righteous and upright in our hearts. Rather the events of the past week suggest that parts of our people have become nearly as intolerant, and wicked as “those nations”.  Tragically, there are aspects of Israeli society, Jewish society that has become like the other nations. Perhaps those segments of the population, ironically those segments that are “holier than thou” or “more righteous than thou” need to be reminded that in their arrogance, and their stiff necked, closed mindedness, they don’t deserve the land.

Peace,

Rav Yitz