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They will stumble over one another. (26:37)

They will become so demoralized and fearful of the enemy that they will flee without seeing where they are going, stumbling over one another.  Chazal add a new twist to the interpretation of this pasuk.  They will stumble over each other’s sins.  Since all Jews are inherently responsible one for another, one Jew will be held liable for the transgression perpetrated by his fellow Jew.  We are all components of a large unit called Klal Yisrael.  We cannot ignore one another’s shortcomings. A visitor once came to the Volozhiner Yeshiva and noticed Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, zl, delivering a shiur.  As…

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And you behave toward me with casualness. I will behave toward you with a fury of casualness. (26:27, 28)

As Jews,  we believe in Hashgacha Pratis, Divine Providence.  This means that Hashem observes, is aware of and controls everything  that occurs during our lives.  Everything is totally inclusive to the point that Chazal teach us that “one does not stub his finger in this world unless it has been predecreed from Above.”  To paraphrase Horav Baruch Sorotzkin, zl, there is no concept of coincidence in Jewish theology.  It is sinful for one to think or say “it just happened.”  Things do not “just happen.”  They are preordained by the Almighty.  This is the meaning of the pasuk.  If one…

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If you will not listen to Me and will not perform all of these commandments. (26:14)

Rashi explains that “not listening” to Hashem refers  to an individual  who studies Torah without ameilus, toil. One who does not labor in Torah, but rather takes a complacent, back-seat attitude, will eventually refrain from performing Hashem’s mitzvos.   Rashi adds that this is just the first step in a seven step chain-reaction of sin, in which  one regresses from a lack of intensity in Torah study to the point that he denies the very existence of Hashem.  This is a remarkable statement.  To think that a lack of intensity, a weakening of one’s resolve to toil in Torah study, leads …

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If you will follow my decrees. (26:3)

Chazal tell us that to “follow/walk” in Hashem’s decrees is to engage in intensive Torah study, to toil and labor in Torah.  Horav Gedalyah Shorr, zl, explains this in the following manner: The distinction  between a man and an angel is found in the fact that the malach, angel, is an omeid, stands still, while man is a mehaleich, moves/walks.  The Torah reveals to us that man “moves” through ameilus, by toiling in Torah.  He goes higher and higher, from strength to strength by toiling in Torah. Horav Shorr cites the Rogatshover Gaon, zl, who adds that this “halichah,” form…

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