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“This day you became a people (nation).”

Horav Elchonon Wasserman Z”l explains the distinction between the term “am” and the term “goy”, both of which are commonly translated as “nation”. “Goy” connotes an autonomous nation which is settled in its own land under its own governance. In contrast, “am” implies a people or large group of individuals who speak the same language and maintain a common culture. They comprise a “nation” despite their lack of their own land.   This differentiation clarifies Moshe’s declaration to Bnei Yisrael, “Today you have become an am”, for they had accepted the Torah, which was written in seventy languages on the…

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“And it shall come to pass if you listen more seriously to the voice of Hashem your G-d… conscientiously to do all the mitzvos… and all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you listen to the voice of Hashem, your G-d.” (28:1-2)

The above pasuk characterizes the observance of Hashem’s mitzvos as the primary vehicle of demonstrating our obedience to Him. We are to listen to Hashem’s voice for the sole purpose of fulfilling His law. In return for this life of service to Him, we have been promised an abundance of material blessing wherever we go. Wherever we may be, we will be accompanied by Hashem’s blessing. One simple criterion must be met: “To obey Hashem in order to fulfill His laws.”   Material wealth should serve as a means, but never as the goal, for the Jewish people. We will…

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“And all these curses shall come upon you and pursue you… because you did not serve Hashem with joy.” (28:45-47)

We may note that the Torah reveals that the only sin which will effect these terrible curses is a deficiency in serving Hashem joyously. An insipid service of Hashem is not only wrong, but it also distorts the very essence of spirituality. As the Nefesh Hachayim points out, a service devoid of passion is comparable to the interaction characteristic of the relationship of a slave to his master or a prisoner to his captor.   Why does the Torah inflict such terrible punishment upon one who fails to achieve this spiritual apex? Individual personalities vary, and not all people are…

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“Hashem has not given you a heart to recognize, and eyes to see, and ears to hear until this day.” (29:3)

In compliance with the Divine imperative, Moshe gave a special Sefer Torah to the tribe of Levi. Upon hearing this, Bnei Yisrael reacted in an unanticipated manner. They said, “Moshe, we also stood at Mount Sinai and received the Torah, why should you give dominance to the people of your tribe over it? In the future your descendants might claim it was given only to them and not to all of us. This could, Heaven-forbid, lead to the Torah ultimately being lost from Klal Yisrael.” When Moshe heard their reaction he responded, “Today, you have become a nation. This day…

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“And you shall rejoice in all the good which Hashem your G-d has given you, and to your house, you and the Levi and the stranger that it is in your midst.” (26:11)

The Torah is making us aware that all the “good” which one possesses is of no value if he takes it only for himself, and does not share it equally with those less fortunate than he. When one is ready to share in the good which Hashem has given, that he is truly in possession of “all the good”. We learn from this posuk that one must implant in his mind that whatever he possesses is a gift from Hashem. This gift is given to him on the condition that he exercise his ownership over it properly, by sharing it…

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“I have listened to the voice of Hashem, I have done all that You have commanded me.” (26:14)

There are degrees of intensity in performing Hashem’s mitzvos. One may discharge His mandate instinctively, without any forethought This individual is definitely performing the mitzvos, although he is missing the essence of the observance. The sanctity and purity which one develops by performing Mitzvos by rote is diminished, and the whole meaning of his Judaism is thereby endangered. The proper course is one where he is aware of Hashem’s Presence, constantly, vigilant, awaiting the opportunity to serve Hashem. Rabbi Mordechai Gifter Shlita explains the transgression of the rebellious son “he does not listen to the voice of his father and…

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“And you shall build there (on Mount Evol) an altar to Hashem your G-d.” (27:5)

It seems rather peculiar that Mount Evol, the place where the curses were uttered, was chosen as the site for the erection of an altar for offering peace sacrifices and great rejoicing in tribute to Hashem. Would not Mount Gerizim, which was the site where the blessings were pronounced, have been a more suitable place? Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Zt”l points to expediency by which the curses brought about Jewish observance rather than to that of the blessings. Hashem in His infinite compassion employs disciplinary and punitive methods only as a means to induce us into the correct observance of His…

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“Hashem will strike you with insanity, and with blindness, and with numbness of the heart.” (28:28)

  Rashi defines cck iuvn, as obstruction or numbness of the heart. This refers to a spiritual numbness which brings about a weakening and crippling effect on one’s faith which prevents him from viewing life clearly through a Torah perspective. Troubles befall a person and he wonders why? He doesn’t recognize Hashem’s binding force in everything that transpires. While numbness of the heart is a result of sin, it is also a basis for future sin and a prime hindrance for performing teshuva (repentance). Thus do we say in the very last “Al Chayt” of the Yom Kippur confession: “And…

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“And you shall be mad at the sight of your eyes which you shall see.” (28:34)

In today’s society, when the world is filled with so much distortion of the truth, and overwhelmed with deceit and hypocrisy, it is indeed viritually impossible for people to see the truth. There are, however, individuals who, because they maintaining a Torah true observance, have access to a clear perspective of what society should be. Their clarity of vision is nonetheless denounced, their message is distorted and treated as the ramblings of madmen. This can be the interpretation of the above posuk. Those who, because of their ability to see, have chosen not to follow the decadent course taken by…

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