Rabbi's Blog

For me, Eretz Yisrael has a big influence on how I think and see the world, especially when I am here. Looking through a lens of the land that Hashem promised our forefathers Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov I read and learn the words of the Torah with a different passion. These Parshios of Sefer Devarim have a particular influence as it describes the land in many ways and many times over. I will try to illustrate this in this week’s parsha VaEschanan with the following parable and pesukim in the Torah.

There is a story told of two childhood friends that parted ways after their teenage years. One friend went on to become a very successful businessman and led an extraordinary comfortable life, both physically and spiritually. The other friend did not become wealthy by any means but was not really poor and surely felt he lacked nothing. One time the wealthy friend was going to pass through the city of his childhood friend. He got in touch with him and let him know he would like to visit. His friend was excited as well to see his old buddy.

The day of his arrival came. After the initial greetings at the door of handshakes, hugs and kisses they spent a good while just trying to catch up on each other’s life as much as they could. They shared some drinks and food and the wealthy visiting friend eventually needed to go to the bathroom. After he came out of the restroom they resumed their conversation, chatting, and reminiscing of the old days while at the same time catching up to the present day. As the time passed so quickly it was time to go. Before leaving the wealthy friend took out his check book and wrote out a very large check and stuffed it into the hand of his friend. The host friend looked and said “what is this for?” the wealthy friend said “don’t worry I understand your situation. I have plenty of money and I want you to have it”. The host friend was very confused and said “I and my family are fine we don’t need this money”. Once again, the wealthy man insisted and the host also insisted and asked “but why do you think I am poor?” The wealthy friend said “I know it may be embarrassing for you to admit you need it. When I went to the bathroom I happened to peak in your medicine cabinet and I was shocked to see that it was empty! I then realized you don’t even have money for medicine! At that the host friend responded and said: “You think because I don’t have any medicine in the cabinet it is a sign of poverty? I don’t have medicine in the cabinet because we Baruch Hashem are all healthy!” If I or my family need medication I would go buy it, but right now we don’t need it.

Thank God we live in a time when medication controls a whole host of illnesses and diseases and gives extended quality of life to many more people than in the past. One question we can ask is “should we buy medicine before a problem occurs or only afterwards”. Chaz”al the Rabbis of blessed memory teach us that Hashem in the order of the world, created the refuah/the healing before the Makkah/plague. God has already provided the answer either in medication form or the know how to eventually correct and heal a person or situation he or she find themselves in.  Any issue whether it be physical or spiritual has the “fix” already in motion by God.

Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explains a central difference between the Jewish people and the gentile world as well as Eretz Yisrael and the rest of the world. The Torah states in Devarim 4:5 “R’ay Limadeti Eschem Chukim U’Mishpatim Ka’Asher Tzivani Hashem Elohai, La’Asos Kein B’Kerev HaAretz Asher Atem Ba’Im Shama L’Rishta”. “See, Behold I (Moshe speaking to the Bnei Yisrael) have taught you statutes and laws that which Hashem commanded me, to do in the midst of the land that you have come to inherit and dwell in”. Rav Hirsch explains the norm of settling land and the establishment of a country. Most civilizations will first settle and live in a place together for a certain period of time. Only after a few months and sometimes even years will they begin to establish laws and statutes for the benefit of the inhabitants. The establishment of the laws and statutes will follow the spiritual and physical situation of the people at that time. But they do not and really cannot establish laws and ordinances for the future when the situation doesn’t call for it yet. This is why laws are constantly changing in different parts of a country, state and city as it modifies according to the population and make-up of the area. In short, by the other nations establishing laws come after the dwellers.

RSR”H contrasts the rest of the world to the Jews. The Jewish people are unique and one of a kind. Hashem gave the Jewish people statutes and laws prior to going into Eretz Canaan. “Behold I have taught you the laws and statutes…..to be able to do them as soon as you enter the land. These laws and statutes are for all time, circumstance and situation that the Jews find themselves in for all future generations. This is fitting for a later verse that speaks of the Jewish people as “Rak Am Chacham V’Navon” a wise and insightful people….and “Umi Goy Gadol Asher Lo Chukim U’Mishpatim Tzadikim K’Chol HaTorah HaZos” “who is like this great nation that has statutes and righteous laws like this Torah”. In short, by the Jewish people the laws were given even before we inhabited the land. The Torah

Rav Hirsch was born in Germany in 1808 and died in Germany in 1888 and to my knowledge never made it to the land of Israel. Never the less he had the understanding of all Chazal that the Torah is the guide book of the land of Israel in the past, present and future. Many of us do have the privilege to come and be in Eretz Yisrael. Learning about the land of Israel of today and the history of the Jewish people from Sinai till today shows beyond a shadow of doubt that we the Jewish people are the chosen nation and Eretz Yisrael is our homeland and the Torah is the immortal gift that Hashem uses to bring it all together.

Ah Gut Shabbos (from the holiest land in the world)

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky