Judge Decreed It; The Clerk He Wrote It (Noah Lewis- "Viola Lee Blues")

           As my daughter continues to heal from knee surgery, we have had some wonderful father/daughter bonding. While watching the news this past week, we learned that a legally issued search warrant was obtained by the FBI in order to conduct a search for documents that were removed from the White House and stored in Donald Trump’s Mara Lago home.  Documents in the White House belong to the people, not to a President. According to The Federal Records Act, The Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act, and The Presidential Records Act,  all documents of an outgoing president belong to the National Archives and ultimately the American People. Also, the law re-enforces a fundamental truth in democracies, the president and for that matter, an outgoing president is not above the law, but rather bound by it. Breaking the law has consequences.

          This Shabbat is Parsha V’Etchanan; it is also known as Shabbat Nachamu (Shabbat of Comfort). Parsha V’Etchanan is always the Parsha that immediately follows Tisha B’Av (the Ninth of Av), the day on which we commemorate the destruction of both the First and Second Temple. V’Etchanan is a continuation of Moshe Rabeinu’s lecture to Bnai Yisroel.  Moshe urges and cajoles Bnai Yisroel to learn from their hardships. Moshe reiterates the Ten Commandments and his experience at Sinai. Then Moshe explains that while he can speak of the Ten Commandments and share his experience, Bnai Yisroel will now have to pass this information and these commandments in a very different way than sharing a firsthand experience of the revelation of Sinai. Instead, this generation, the generation that did not stand at Sinai, will have to teach the meaning of these words, ideas, and commandments, to their children and live by them.

          The Parsha begins with Moshe Rabeinu, the soon-to-be outgoing leader of the Jewish people, explaining that he wasn’t above the rules. V’Etchanan El Adoshem B’Eit Ha’Hee Leimor -I implored Hashem at that time saying: E’Ebrah Nat V’Ereh et Ha’Aretz HaTova Let me now cross and see the good Land that is on the other side of the Jordan, this good mountain and the Lebanon (Deut. 3:23). Moshe recounts his desire to enter into Eretz Canaan, God’s anger because he failed to heed God’s commandment to speak to the rock and the resulting punishment. VaYitaber Adoshem Bi L’Manchem V’Lo Shama Eilai VaYomer  Adoshem Eilai Rav Lach Al Tosef Daber Eilai Od B’Davar HaZeh - But God became angry with me because of you, and He did not listen to me; God said to me ‘It is too much for you! Do not continue to speak to Me further about this matter. (Deut. 3:25-26). Despite blaming B’nei Israel's behavior as the reason why Moshe lost his temper and hit the rock instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded, God didn’t want to hear any more about it. Moshe was going to be punished and Moshe needed to accept the punishment.

           Leaders have responsibilities, they are bound by certain rules given the role of leadership. Moshe is described as the most humble servant of God, and the greatest prophet. Within Jewish tradition, Moshe is considered one of, if not the greatest leader of the Jewish people. Yet, he violated a commandment and suffered the consequences. He was removed from his role as leader and he was forbidden to enter the Promised Land. Instead, he had to settle to look out upon it from a hilltop on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Democracies are based upon Laws.  The United StatesAttorney General Merrick Garland is Jewish. He is well versed in the fundamental sanctity of Torah and law. He reminded the world that in a  democracy, a society that is grounded in law, that no one is above the law.

Peace,
Rav Yitz

When All We Ever Wanted Was To Learn And Love And Grow (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia- "Days Between")

         The great turn of the 20th-century philosopher and Harvard professor, George Santayana famously said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”, Early last week, when the Jewish world commemorated the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, a painful and tragic incident occurred making Santayana’s words prophetic. The Talmudic Rabbis remind us that the reason for the destruction of the 2nd Temple, which occurred in 70 C.E.) was because of Sinat Chinam – Baseless Hatred (Talmud Yoma 9B). Nearly 2000 years later, that lesson was tragically forgotten. At the Kotel, the last remnant of the 2nd Temple, Jews gathered to read the Eicha, the Book of Lamentations, and pray. There are three sections at the Kotel. The main plaza is divided between a “men’s section”, and a “women’s section”.  South of the main plaza, in a much smaller area, there is a designated “non-orthodox” section where men and women can pray together in an Egalitarian setting.  As Tisha B'Av was about to begin and non-orthodox Jews made their way to this section, they were met by Orthodox protesters who attempted to occupy the site and set up partitions separating men and women. The protesters tried to shout down the worshippers, and things became physical. Eventually, the police had to come to break up the conflict and cool down the tension. Jewish and Israeli leaders have denounced the behaviour of a fundamentalist mob. The lessons are tragic, as we witness the greatest threat to the Jewish people is the Jewish people. Yet, as tragic as the events this past Sunday were, there is more to the lesson from which the Jewish world can learn. In order to make sense of the tragedy of Tisha B’Av, The Talmudic Sages remind us that the Messiah was born on Tisha B’Av. From the pure hate that led to a national tragedy comes the possibility of goodness, holiness, and Pure Love.

          This morning we read from Parsha V’Etchanan. V’Etchanan is always the Parsha that immediately follows Tisha B’Av.  The Parsha itself portrays B’nai Yisroel sitting intently and listening to Moshe's first discourse on the Law. Moshe reiterates the covenant, the punishment of exile, and the constant possibility of return. Moshe reiterates the experience of revelation at Sinai as well as a re-statement of the Aseret Dibrot, the Ten Commandments. Moshe teaches this new generation that when they experienced revelation, they witnessed the fire. And the fact that they sit on the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River is a testament to that fact. Moshe reminds this new generation that this Torah is perfect, one can interpret but we cannot add or subtract words. Instead, we must struggle and make sense of every aspect of Torah. Moshe then introduces the lone piece of dogma in the entire Torah: Shema Yisroel Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad Hear O Israel the Lord is God the Lord is One. The Parsha concludes with Moshe reminding B’nai Yisroel that in order to fulfill the Covenant, it must reclaim the land. 

          Central to Moshe’s message is the transcendent power of God’s Covenant at Mt. Horeb. The covenant was made with their ancestors, it is made now with this generation and it will be renewed with each and every generation. Then Moshe tells this generation V’Ahavta et Adoshem Elokecha – Love the Lord your God.  Moshe clarifies that this is accomplished through deed, B’Chol Levavcha U’Vechol Nafshecha U’vechol Meodecha – With all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your possessions.  Only by demonstrating a love for God with every fiber of being;  will B'nei Yisroel be able to enjoy the covenantal blessings.  Moshe understood that Love will be the key for this covenant to survive. When B’nai Yisroel loves God, it will listen, cherish and keep all the means of expressing that love towards God. Perhaps, just as important is that to truly demonstrate one’s love for God, one must demonstrably love God’s Torah and God’s people. Moshe also reminds them what will happen when love wanes and they cease listening, cherishing, keeping and observing, and caring for one another.

          For Moshe, love was not just an emotion it was a source of energy. It was a constructive force.  Moshe also understood that Love was something that needed to be acted upon. Love was not for the passive.  The Aggadah tells of Rabbi Akivah’s impending death and his recitation of the Shema while being tortured immediately prior to his death is an expression of love, maybe the ultimate expression of love. What parent wouldn’t choose his/her own life in exchange for his/her child? Love isn’t a seasonal short term fleeting emotion such as just a summer. Rather, Love is every day, love is hard work, and love is commitment. Because Love is all those things, love transcends time.  So while ChaZaL can say that the destruction of the 2nd Temple was due to pure hatred; ChaZaL can also teach that from the fleeting, short-term destructive nature of hatred comes the transcendent, constructive force of goodness, of holiness, and of a future that focuses upon the possible. As Jewish leaders around the world, including the current Israeli government, denounced this tragic behaviour; the current Bennet/Lapid government said that it would renew the 2016 agreement.  Perhaps the current government has learned its lesson from History as well as from the previous government. A people divided by fundamentalism, intolerance,  and ignorance endangers their very survival. We saw it with two Kingdoms and the eventual destruction of the First Temple in Kings I and Kings II. We saw it again, as the sages reminded us in the Talmud (Yoma 9B), we witness it as younger diaspora Jews turn away from Israel, and we witness it when religious fundamentalism and closed-mindedness drowns the idea of Ahavat Israel (Love for the Jewish People).  However, if we overcome this with all our heart, our soul, and by all of our means, perhaps we can aspire to a better world. Certainly, the Talmudic sages thought so. 

Peace,
Rav Yitz

And You Of Tender Years, Can't Know The Fears That Your Elders Grew By (Graham Nash -"Teach Your Children")

          Our university-bound daughter returned from summer camp this week. With only a few days to get her clothes washed and packed before being dropped off at University next week; I reminded her that one of the important aspects of being a “college student” is the opportunity to question, question authority, and to question the dominant culture. The idea of questioning is incredibly Jewish and in a sense, “counter-cultural”. As we spoke, I happen to be listening to a band who played for only the second time together fifty years ago before several hundred thousand people. As she listened to the lyrics, I reminded her that fifty years ago this week, in August of 1969, on a farm dairy farm owned by Max Yasgur the Jewish son of Russian immigrants, outside the small town of Beth El, NY, a music and arts festival took place known as Woodstock. Hundreds of thousands of “college-age kids” gathered together. Woodstock would eventually come to represent the counter-cultural movement of an entire decade and generation. Forget for a moment that the nearest town was Beth El, named after the Bet El in Torah. Max Yasgur, the Jewish Dairy farmer, was a member of the Republican Party, a supporter of the Viet Nam war, and he essentially disagreed with everything that the Woodstock came to represent. When asked why he leased his fields for the Woodstock festival, Yasgur explained: “that if the generation gap is to be closed, we older people have to do more than we have done.” ("Farmer With Soul: Max Yasgur". The New York Times. 1969-08-17)

          This Shabbat, we read from Parsha V’Etchanan; it is also known as Shabbat Nachamu “Shabbat of Comfort”. Parsha V’Etchanan is always the Torah portion that immediately follows Tisha B’Av. Certainly, after commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, B’nai Yisroel needed spiritual comforting. Certainly, in this week’s Parsha, V’Etchanan, Moshe’ reassures B’nai Yisroel of its destiny and in doing so, comforts them. After concluding a brief history of B’nai Yisroel’s wanderings and a gentle rebuke of this generation which is about to enter into Eretz Canaan, Moshe now provides a framework for all the laws he will teach in succeeding weeks. Moshe presents the Aseret Dibrot, the Ten Commandments to this news generation. Moshe infuses the people with self-respect. He reminds this generation that the entire basis for our nationhood and our relationship to God is avoiding idolatry at all costs. Avoiding idolatry ultimately distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Finally, Moshe reminds the people that if they follow the advice, then everything will go well. From that perspective, Moshe is re-assuring the people that the future is possible and plausible.

          Certainly the re-iteration of the laws, the inspiring words of the inevitable entry into the land and the realization of a covenant that God made with B’nai Yisroel’s ancestors are considered to words that are both comforting and inspired. However, those words provide comfort in the short term immediate future. Moshe understands that insuring a future is not about the next day, week, month or year. Moshe needs to provide comfort, inspiration, and sustainability for not only the generation that is ready to enter the land but all the generations that will be born in the land, born while in exile and all the generations that transcend time. First, Moshe invokes the two witnesses that embody the infinite. Heaven and Earth are the witnesses to B’nai Yisroel’s acceptance of covenant (Deut 4:26). Moshe reminds this generation that they will become parents and grandparents (Deut. 4:25). Moshe reminds this generation that their primary responsibility is to teach these ordinances, these laws to their children and grandchildren. Moshe reminds this generation that it must teach “how” to observe, “when” to observe, and “why” to observe, and every parent must be prepared for the inevitability that the children will question (Deut. 6:7; 6:20). For Moshe, the most important way to sustain the generational commitment to the covenant is for parents and grandparents to teach and transmit the data, the information, and the values to the next generation.

          Moshe understood and warned B’nai Yisroel that the success of the covenant is depended upon B’nai Yisroel remaining separate and apart from other people. Moshe understood that the covenant remains viable as long as and as effective as parents and grandparents are able to teach it to their children. Moshe also understood that children’s curiosity, children’s desire to learn, to question and to seek reminds parents and grandparents of their sacred task. Then it is up to the older generation to do what it can to pass along their experiences, their wisdom, their knowledge and diminish that generation gap. Fifty years ago, a Jewish dairy farmer in Beth-El, New York understood that and fifty years later, with our daughter preparing to head off to university, we understand that as well.

Peace,
Rav Yitz

When All We Ever Wanted Was To Learn And Love And Grow ( Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Days Between")

Fiftieth anniversaries are usually considered a pretty big deal. It is a time to look back and see how far the journey has been. It is a time to look back and see younger version, perhaps a more innocent, more naïve, and more foolish version of oneself. It is a time to look back and see those younger versions of ourselves when the world was full of possibility as opposed to a world full realizations and self awareness. Fiftieth wedding anniversaries are considered amazing accomplishments and the embodiment of commitment, devotion and love between two people. This summer is the fiftieth anniversary of the Summer of Love, a name given to the baby boomers that spent 1967 making a pilgrimage out west to California and specifically to my wife’s hometown of San Francisco. I can’t help but notice the irony of that Summer of Love fifty years later during this week.  One of the most influential musicians during the Summer of Love, Jerry Garcia,  would have been 75 this week and the anniversary of his death, his Yartzeit is next week. This was the week the Jewish People commemorated Tisha B’ Av, the destruction of the 1^st and 2^nd Holy Temples, as well as a myriad of other tragedies including the Spanish Inquisition.  I don’t recall every hearing about anything in Judaism that suggests anything like “The Summer of Love”. Instead, the Talmudic Rabbis remind us that the reason for the destruction of the 2^nd Temple was because of Sinat Chinam – Pure Hatred. Yet within their attempt to make sense of the national tragedy, these same Sages remind us that the Messiah was born on Tisha B’Av. From the pure hate that led to a national tragedy comes the possibility of goodness, holiness, and Pure Love.

This morning we read from Parsha V’Etchanan. V’Etchanan is always the Parsha that immediately follows Tisha B’Av.  The Parsha itself portrays B’nai Yisroel sitting intently and listening to Moshe's first discourse on the Law. Moshe re-iterates the covenant, the punishment of exile and the constant possibility of return. Moshe re-iterates the experience of revelation at Sinai as well as a re-statement of the Aseret Dibrot, the Ten Commandments. Moshe teaches this new generation that they heard the revelation, they witnessed the fire. And the fact that they sit on the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River is a testament to that fact. Moshe reminds this new generation that this Torah is perfect, one can interpret but we cannot add or subtract words. Instead we must struggle and make sense of every aspect of Torah. Moshe then introduces the lone piece of dogma in the entire Torah: Shema Yisroel Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad Hear O Israel the Lord is God the Lord is One. The Parsha concludes with Moshe strongly reminding B’nai Yisroel that as part of the Covenant it must reclaim the land. Once in the land, B’nai Yisroel is obligated to separate themselves from the other indigenous tribes and uphold the obligations of the covenant that God made with their ancestors.

Central to Moshe’s message is the transcendent power of the God’s Covenant at Mt. Horeb. The covenant was made with their ancestors, it is made now with this generation and it will be renewed with each and every generation. How often does Moshe use words like Sham listen; Shamor guard, keep (as in take care of something)? Then Moshe tells this generation V’Ahavta et Adoshem Elokecha – Love the Lord your God.  Moshe clarifies that this is accomplished through deed, B’Chol Levavcha U’Vechol Nafshecha U’vechol Meodecha – With all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your possessions. With every fiber of their being; by being completely committed to the relationship will they be able to enjoy the blessing from it.  Moshe understood that Love will be the key for this covenant to survive. When B’nai Yisroel loves God, it will listen cherish and keep all the means of expressing that love towards God. Moshe also reminds them what will happen when love wanes and they cease listening, cherishing, keeping and observing.

For Moshe, love was not just an emotion it was a source of energy. It was a constructive force.  Moshe also understood that Love was something that needed to be acted upon. Love was not for the passive.  The Aggadah that tells of Rabbi Akivah’s death, reciting these words while being tortured and ultimately dying are but the ultimate expression of love. What parent wouldn’t choose his/her own life in exchange for his/her child? Love isn’t a seasonal short term fleeting emotion such as just a summer. Rather, Love is every day, love is hard work, and love is commitment. Because Love is all those things, love transcends time.  So while ChaZaL,the Talmudic Sages, can say that the destruction of the 2^nd Temple was due to pure hatred; ChaZaL can also teach that from the fleeting, short term destructive nature of hatred comes love and its transcendent, constructive force of goodness, of holiness and of a future that focuses upon the possible.  Just as Moshe taught that love is transcendent and perhaps the most powerful force that can emanate from the soul; in this fiftieth anniversary of the Summer of Love, maybe our task as parents should be the same. Maybe Judaism never had a "Summer of Love" because we say "V'Ahavta et Adoshem Elokecha.... " twice a day to remind us that every day one should strive to love.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

You Who Choose To Lead Must Follow (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Ripple")

It has been a very busy week. Our sixteen year old daughter returned from six weeks in Israel. Yes, she has grown up and she is exerting her new sense of independence since she arrived. My wife and I have been following the Olympics, and the Presidential campaign. Amid all the news, a 41 year old baseball player was given his unconditional release. Now that is certainly not newsworthy. After all, there are not a lot of 41 year old baseball players who are particularly productive. Alex Rodriguez will receive the remainder of the 27 million dollars that he is owed. However Alex’s team, the New York Yankees explained that while he will no longer play baseball for the Yankees, he will become and “advisor” to Yankee players. He will become a mentor to younger players. Ironically, this is the same Alex Rodriguez that was banned from baseball for a year because he was taking performance enhancing drugs. Superficially, Alex Rodriguez might not be the best choice to be a mentor or advisor to young players. Despite the glaring character flaws, he is reputed to have an incredibly strong work ethic, he loves the game and he has a strong appreciation of the history of the game.  However, make no mistake both Alex and his employer understand that the time has come for the next generation of players to assume the mantle of leadership.

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Nachamu “Shabbat of Comfort”.  Parhsa V’Etchanan is always the Torah portion that immediate follows after Tisha B’Av.  Certainly after commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, B’nai Yisroel needed spiritual comforting.  Certainly in this week’s parsha, V’Etchanan, Moshe’ reassures B’nai Yisroel of its destiny and in doing so, comforts them. After concluding a brief history of B’nai Yisroel’s wanderings and a gentle rebuke of this generation which is about to enter into Eretz Canaan, Moshe now provides a framework for all the laws he will teach in succeeding weeks.  Moshe presents the Aseret Dibrot, the Ten Commandments to this news generation. Moshe infuses the people with self-respect. He reminds this generation that the entire basis for our nationhood and our relationship to God is avoiding idolatry at all costs. Avoiding idolatry ultimately distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Finally, Moshe reminds the people that if they follow the advice, then everything will go well. From that perspective, Moshe is re-assuring the people that the future is possible and plausible.

Prior to the discourse, Moshe implores God, hoping that the punishment will be rescinded and he could indeed enter the land. Surprisingly, God does not listen to his most humble servant. Instead, Moshe tell us: Vayitaber Hashem- God became angry (Deut. 3:26). Imagine that! For the first time we are told that God actually became angry with Moshe. God has been angry at B’nai Yisroel on numerous occasions. Yet God was never angry with Moshe. Even when Moshe hit the rock (Num. 2: 9-13), we do not read of God getting “angry” with Moshe. God becomes angry at a “dying man’s final request”.  Now, from Moshe’s perspective God tells Moshe to drop the matter. Instead of wasting time trying to walk in Eretz Canaan, God tells Moshe V’Tzav et Yehoshua v’Chazkeihu v’Amtzeihu Ki Hu Ya’Avor Lifnei Ha’Am HaZeh, V’hu Yanchil Otam et Ha’Aretz Asher Tireh – But you shall command Joshua, and strengthen him and give him resolve, for he shall cross before this people and he shall cause them to inherit the Land that you will see. (Deut. 3:28). So Moshe begins strengthening Joshua and his nation by teaching them the law, by providing a framework for observance, a framework for living a life and a framework for raising children. Moshe realized that his time as a leader was winding down. Moshe realized that it was time to let go of his authority. In order to let go, Moshe needed to inform, teach and make sure that his wisdom had been thoroughly passed down to the Joshua and this generation.

Whether an aged retiring professional athlete takes on an advisory role, or a parent/ grandparent nearing the end of life hoping to pass on the final pearls of wisdom, there comes a time when we all have the opportunity to pass wisdom to the younger generation. There comes a time when we all realize that it’s time to step aside. The process is an incredibly selfless. After all, to transmit information and wisdom to the next generation is an acknowledgment that the “mentor”/”advisor” is not part of the future. Instead, the future only depends upon offering strength, wisdom, guidance and an endorsement to future leaders. Then the mentor must step aside and allow the leader to lead.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

               

And There's Nothing Left To Do But Count The Years (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Black Muddy River")

One of the amazing things about the congregation that I serve is the number of Holocaust survivors. Children of these congregants, now in their fifties and sixties routinely call the area where the synagogue is located “survivor central”.  The synagogue was built by survivors. Its life cycle affairs, whether a Bris, a Baby Naming, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or a wedding, are large lavish affairs almost symbolically suggesting that not only have they survived but they have thrived.  So when I listed to certain American politicians’ criticism of the Iran Nuclear Deal as the equivalent of marching Israel to the doors of the gas chambers; I want to hang my head in despair. The despair results from the complete disrespect and lack of sensitivity for the numerous survivors of my congregation as well as the numerous family and friends of theirs that, indeed, were marched to the doors of the gas chambers. I look at the elderly congregants who are Holocaust survivors and realize that they have done much more than survive, they have thrived. They are a testament and a symbol of the Jewish People’s ability to survive. As difficult as the situation has been I am reminded of Mark Twain’s opinion of  the Jewish People. “If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with the sound and splendor, then faded to dream stuff and passed away. The Greek and the roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality (Mark Twain, “Concerning the Jews” Harpers Magazine, 1898).

This week’s parsha is V’Etchanan. The Parshah begins with Moshe's recounting his experience of pleading to God to allow him into the Land. Moshe explained to this new generation that because of the previous generation's whining and complaining, he lost patience and failed to adhere to God's command. Moshe explain that this is why he cannot cross into the land as well as Joshua becoming the leader. Moshe then recounts his experience and his generation's experience of revelation at Sinai. However instead of just stating the facts, Moshe adds his own editorial comments. "For the Lord your God is a merciful, He will not abandon you or destroy you, He will not forget the covenant of your forefathers that he swore to them" (Deut. 4:31). Moshe is offering hope, suggesting that no matter what happens to this people, they must always know and believe that we always have the capacity for T'shuvah for return or repentance to God, and that we will always be accepted. Moshe then begins recounting the giving of the Aseret HaDibrot, The Ten Commandments. Moshe again reminds B’nai Yisroel to never participate in Avodah Zarah (idolatry), and avoid it at all costs. He implores us to pass this information, and to teach these traditions and these laws to the next generation.

Throughout this Parsha, the secrets to our survival are revealed in large broad statements as well as the use of certain words. One secret to our survival is the “Aseret Dibrot” -The Ten Commandments (Deut. 5:6-19). Another secret to our survival is perhaps the one theologically dogmatic statement in Torah: Shmah Yisroel Adoshem Elokeinu, Adoshem Echad – Hear O Yisroel O Lord Our God, the Lord is One. (Deut. 6:4). Certainly the “Shmah” contributes to the secret of our survival. Moshe’s re-iteration of God’s nature also contributes to the secret of our success.  Ki Eil Kanah Adoshem Elokecha B’kirbecha pen yechreh af Adoshem Elokecha   bach v’hismidcha mei’al pnei Ha’Adamah- For a jealous God is the Lord your God, among you lest the wrath of the Lord your God will flare against you and He destroy you from upon the face of the earth…(Deut 6:15-19). Certainly these powerful explicit statements of theology, universal moral guidelines, and our fear of retribution contribute to the secret of our survival.

However the essence of our survival is our sense of purpose and our sense of existence. Our purpose is to live according to these laws. “You shall be careful to act as the Lord your God commanded you, you shall not stray to the right or left". B’chol Ha’derech Asher Tzivah Adoshem Elokeichem Etchem Teileichu L’ma’an Tishyun V’Tov Lachem v’haractem Yamim – On the entire way that the Lord your God, commanded you shall you go, so that you shall live and it will be good for you, and you shall prolong your days…(Deut.6:29-30).  We live according to Torah so that our lives will go well, so that our lives will have more meaning, so that the quality of our lives determines length. We learn that living a long life is not about length it is about quality. Our sense of purpose is to achieve this quality. Besides “purpose” we must have a sense of our existence. Our sense of existence is our acceptance of our place. There were generations that came before us and, G-d willing, generations will follow us. Ki Yishalcha vincha Machar Leimor Mah Ha’eidot vHa’chukim v’Hamishpatim Asher Tzivah Adoshem Elokeinu Etchem – If your child asks you tomorrow saying; What are the testimonies and the decrees and the ordinances that the Lord your G-d commanded you V’Amarta L’vincha Avadim Ha’yinu l’Faroh B’Mitzrayim – You shall say to your child, “We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt…(Deut. 6:20-21). Our sense of purpose is of that of transmitter between the older generation and the younger generation, between the past and the future. As we delve deeper into the Book of Deuteronomy we understand that our survival is dependent upon our ability to transmit this sense of purpose and sense of existence to the next generation. That ability is what makes us a holy nation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Peace, 

Rav Yitz