Moshe Marcovich

כי יקום בקרבך נביא או חלם חלום... לאמר נלכה אחרי אלהים אחרים... לא תשמע אל דברי הנביא ההוא

If there should stand up in your midst a prophet or a dreamer of a dream… saying, “Let us follow gods of others… do not hearken to the words of that prophet.” (13:2,3,4)

We never cease to be amazed by the sheer brilliance of the Baal HaTurim (which was written when the author was seventeen years old). Concerning the word, b’kirbecha, “in your midst,” he writes: The gematria, numerical equivalent, of b’kirbecha navi is zu ha’ishah, “This is the woman.” It is difficult to understand, since the numerical values do not coincide. B’kirbecha Navi equal 387, while zu ha’ishah equals 324. As a result of the difficulty in understanding his statement, many girsaos, versions, of the Baal HaTurim have deleted this. In his Kerem HaTzvi, Horav Tzvi Hirsh Ferber, zl, quotes Torah Shleimah…

Home -> 5778 -> Re'eh

את הברכה אשר תשמעו אל מצות ד' אליכם

Moshe Marcovich In Re'eh, 5778

The blessing: that you hearken to the mitzvos of Hashem, your G-d. (11:27)

The blessing – that you listen (hearken). Should it not have written im tishme’u, if you will listen? Asher, that (you will listen), sounds as if it is referring to one’s ability to listen. I would assume that we all have the ability. It is only a question concerning our desire to listen. The Torah appears to focus on ability, rather than on desire. Perhaps the Torah is teaching us a lesson concerning listening: Listen with your heart – not only with your ears. Deep listening via the emotional compass of one’s heart allows one to hear the “sounds” of…

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ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה

Moshe Marcovich In Re'eh, 5778

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

One would think that since Moshe Rabbeinu is conveying Hashem’s message to the nation, he would say: “See, Hashem presents before you today a blessing and a curse.” Why does he say “I”? He is merely Hashem’s agent. Horav Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, zl, cites Chazal (Berachos 33b) concerning the pasuk in Devarim 10:12, “Now, O Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear Hashem.” All Hashem wants of us is fear. It seems like a simple request. Perhaps for Moshe it was simple, but it is not simple for the rest of the Jewish People. The…

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ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה

Moshe Marcovich In Re'eh, 5778

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

Hayom, today. Does the word “today” hold significance? Is the choice of blessing or curse applicable only today? What about tomorrow? Will we still have the opportunity for choice? I was thinking about this question when I came across an article by a respected rabbinic author in which he explained why he was not celebrating his birthday. He attributes this to the fact that, upon perusing the Torah, one notes that the only birthday we read about is that of Pharaoh. When we think about it, the only day that we Jews seem to deem worthy of celebration is the…

Home -> 5778 -> Eikev

ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5778

You shall teach your children to discuss them. (11:19)

The Sifri underscores the words, l’dabeir bam, “to discuss them.” From the moment that one’s child is able to speak, his father should teach him, Torah tzivah lanu Moshe morashah kehillas Yaakov, “The Torah which Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.” A child’s first words should be Torah. His speech should be Torah-oriented. He learns this from his father. How? It should be the manner in which his father speaks. Aviv melamdo, “His father teaches him,” says Sifri. How does a father teach a young child who has just begun to speak? He does this…

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ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5778

Now, O Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d. (10:12)

The Pele Yoeitz explains Hashem’s request pragmatically. “You watch my field, and I will watch yours,” or, in modern day parlance, “You have my back, and I will have yours.” Yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, is something that Hashem expects us to achieve on our own. Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except for fear of Heaven. Bread, sustenance, is Heaven-sent. The Almighty intimates that we will make a trade: You will have yiraas Shomayim; I will owe you, and My payback will be sustenance. The Noda B’Yehudah questions the pasuk’s choice of wording. First, what is the meaning…

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וזכרת את כל הדרך אשר הוליכך ד' אלקיך זה ארבעים שנה במדבר

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5778

You shall remember the entire road on which Hashem, your G-d, led you these forty years in the wilderness. (8:2)

The Mesillas Yesharim (Perek 1) writes: “For all the circumstances of this world, whether favorable or adverse, are in reality tests for a person to overcome.” Poverty and wealth are both challenges; likewise, tranquility and suffering are tests “provided” by Hashem for the purpose of giving the person the opportunity to garner reward once he successfully emerges triumphant. Life is a test, an opportunity to excel. The very awareness that what confronts us at every turn is nothing more than a test makes the encounter bearable – and surmountable. The Torah enjoins us to remember the travail and difficulty that…

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פן תרבה עליך חית השדה

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5778

Lest the beasts of the field increase against you. (7:22)

Rashi comments that Moshe Rabbeinu was well aware that a Jew’s righteousness protects him from wild beasts. One who is close with Hashem has nothing to fear from wild animals. Moshe was also very much aware that, realistically, the Jews would eventually fall short of this sublime level of virtue. The Talmud (Shabbos 151b) states that a wild beast has no jurisdiction over (cannot harm) a person until that individual appears (to the wild beast) to be just another animal. (When a person taints his Tzelem Elokim, Divine Image, due to a lack of righteousness, then the wild beast sees…

Home -> 5778 -> Va'eschanan

ואהבת את ד' אלקיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ובכל מאודך

Moshe Marcovich In Va'eschanan, 5778

You shall love Hashem, Your G-d, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your possessions. (6:5)

B’chol nafshecha, “with all your soul”: Afilu Hu noteil es nafshecha, “Even if He takes your soul.” According to the Mizrachi, this means that a person should be willing to give up his life for the sanctification of Hashem’s Name – when the situation warrants it. Eimek HaNetziv explains this as an enjoinment for one to feel a sense of love from Hashem even if his life is being taken for His sake. Horav Don Segal, zl, notes that Rashi uses the word noteil (es nafshecha), takes (your soul), rather than titein (you), give. He explains that while giving up…

Home -> 5778 -> Va'eschanan

כבד את אביך ואת אמך

Moshe Marcovich In Va'eschanan, 5778

Honor your father and your mother. (5:16)

The Luchos, Ten Commandments, are divided into two parts: bein adam la’Makom, between man and G-d; bein adam la’chaveiro, between man and fellowman. The fifth commandment, the mitzvah to honor one’s parents, almost appears misplaced, since it is included among the dibros bein adam la’Makom, when, in fact, one may argue that respect for parents, according them pleasure and satisfaction, belongs among the dibros bein adam la’chaveiro. Upon perusing the commentary of the Rishonim, we note that this is actually the case. The Sefer HaChinuch writes that among the shoroshei hamitzvah, root/origin of the mitzvah, is to teach a person…

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כי יקום בקרבך נביא או חלם חלום... לאמר נלכה אחרי אלהים אחרים... לא תשמע אל דברי הנביא ההוא

If there should stand up in your midst a prophet or a dreamer of a dream… saying, “Let us follow gods of others… do not hearken to the words of that prophet.” (13:2,3,4)

את הברכה אשר תשמעו אל מצות ד' אליכם

The blessing: that you hearken to the mitzvos of Hashem, your G-d. (11:27)

ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)

ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

You shall teach your children to discuss them. (11:19)

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך

Now, O Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d. (10:12)

וזכרת את כל הדרך אשר הוליכך ד' אלקיך זה ארבעים שנה במדבר

You shall remember the entire road on which Hashem, your G-d, led you these forty years in the wilderness. (8:2)

פן תרבה עליך חית השדה

Lest the beasts of the field increase against you. (7:22)

ואהבת את ד' אלקיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ובכל מאודך

You shall love Hashem, Your G-d, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your possessions. (6:5)

כבד את אביך ואת אמך

Honor your father and your mother. (5:16)

YEARS

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