B"H
Monday, Menachem Av 4, 5779 / August 5, 2019
This Shabbat we will read Parshat Devarim. With this Parsha we begin the fifth and final book of the Torah, which is also called "Devarim" (Deuteronomy).
From Pesach until now in Israel they were one Parsha ahead of us. With the reading of Parshat Devarim, we will again be united to be reading the same Parsha each Shabbat.
Unity is the remedy to rectify the sin of unjust hatred which caused the destruction of the two Holy Temples. During these Three Weeks we should especially be careful and committed to Jewish unity.
The Book of Devarim is also known as Mishne Torah – The review of the Torah. In the Book of Devarim, Moshe speaks to the people who are about to go into The Promised Land in a few months. He reviews the major events that occurred during their past 40 years in the desert.
In Devarim Moshe reminds and rebukes the people for all the sins committed during the past forty years. He reminds them to observe the Torah and its commandments when they go into Israel.
There are certain Parshiot in the Torah which we read at a specific time of the year. Parshat Devarim is one of these Parshiot. It is read every year on the Shabbat before the fast of "Tisha B'Av" (9th of Av) – the day in which we mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples.
This year, being that Tisha B’Av is on Shabbat, and it is forbidden to fast on Shabbat (except Yom Kippur), the fast of Tisha B'Av will begin Saturday night and end Sunday night.
Q. Why did Moshe find it necessary to review the Torah for the generation which was about to go into the Promised Land?
A. These were the children of the people whom Moshe led out of Egypt. Most of this generation did not witness the Exodus, the Splitting of the Sea and the Giving of the Torah. Thus, in the book of Devarim, Moshe, before his passing, in his parting words and farewell to his people, reviews the many miracles which G-d performed for their parents. He also tells them of the sins their parents transgressed and the punishments which G-d inflicted upon them.
Moshe tells the generation which will be entering the Promised Land the importance of observing the commandments, so they will merit to dwell in the Land of Israel in peace and security.
The story is told of a rabbi who reprimanded his congregation in every Shabbat sermon, for their lack of attending synagogue, performing the mitzvot and lacking in their charity to the needy. The people asked him, “Rabbi, don’t you think it’s time to change the sermon?”
He replied: “You commit the same sins over and over, yet, you expect me to change my sermon?
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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