" SHALOM. Today is 13 Av 5777, Shabbat 3. points out that the verb used to describe Moshe’s Nachamu. Kiddush Levanah can be recited tonight, supplication to Hashem is one of ten different verbs in moon-willing. Hebrew that mean to pray. Rashi further quotes the Sifri that tells us that the verb here chinun comes from the word chinam, which means a gift without payment. Moshe was not counting on his own righteousness or good deeds, DIALOGUE neither did he count on his own devotion to the people of (p. 755 Hz) (p. 1008 S) (p. 666 Hi) (p. 958 AS) Israel that he had shown over so many years. He had never VA'ETCHANAN prayed for himself up until now but only on behalf of the Deuteronomy 3:23 people. So this is the first time that he truly “supplicates” [Compiled by Edward Davis (RED), Rabbi Emeritus Hashem. This is the first time that Moshe is bringing a very Young Israel of Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale] personal and intimate request before the . Rav

Hirsch notes that the verb here has the same grammatical 1. Moshe makes his last supplication to Hashem to allow form as the normal verb for prayer, which is a reflexive form, him entry into the Promised Land. The divine decree was in which the active and the passive are one. Rav Hirsch established and his brother and sister have already died. notes that this is important in the world of prayer, where the Moshe is well aware that the decree against his brother has person who is praying needs to judge himself as he is been carried out, and Hashem plans to end his career east supplicating and praying to Hashem. Before God hears my of the Jordan River. According to the Ibn Ezra this entire prayer I must hear and meditate upon the prayer and its section of the Torah is to teach us to love and cherish the deeper meaning. A person who is praying to God must be . Many throughout the world have completely honest with himself and be absolutely sure that followed in Moshe’s footsteps in loving Eretz Yisrael and yet he is worthy, that his prayer is worthy of being accepted, and have been denied entry into the Promised Land. Years ago that his prayer is worthy of being accepted by Hashem during the time of efforts to allow the Soviet Jews to leave Himself. Still, Moshe’s prayer did not count on being backed Russia, Rabbi Pinchas Peli, o”h, wrote an essay describing up by any claims of law and judgment since he was dealing Moshe as the first refusenik, the first person who requested with a divine decree. Hence it seems he was asking for a and was denied entry into the Land of Israel. Of the five favor, a chessed from Hashem; something that he would be million plus Jews in America, it is estimated that 15% have granted as a gift. visited Israel. Once an American Jew goes to Israel, the probability of his going again is well over 90%. The problem HAFTORAH is the other 80-85% who have not visited Israel, and what (p. 776 Hz) (p. 1028 S) (p. 909 Hi) (p. 1196 AS) percentage of them have no interest in visiting Israel. In contrast to that, there are great numbers of Christians in this country who have demonstrated a tremendous love for the Promised Land, albeit their motives might be sourced in "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people saith your God." Christian theology. They nevertheless have displayed this (Isaiah 40). These are the opening words of the Haftorah for love and worked hard for the benefit of Israel financially and this 's parshah – for the Shabbat appropriately known politically. The lesson that Moshe Rabbeinu was teaching is as Shabbat Nachamu. The (Yalkut Shemoni) on one that still needs to be taught today to the Jewish people this verse proclaims: "May it be a comfort for those above worldwide. (RED.) and for those below, for the living and for the dead, for this world and the world to come." This Midrash seems to be 2. The Meshech Chochmah points out that Moshe claims conveying an important message. Unless comforting or “Hashem got very angry at me because of you and did not consolation is total, there is no real comfort at all. To comfort listen to me” (3:26). Moshe would later return to the theme an individual or a people half-heartedly is no consolation. To of not entering Eretz Yisrael, connecting it to the warning to offer a sympathetic word conveying only half the situation is avoid upon entering the Land. The Meshech meaningless in the final analysis. In fact, the Midrash Chochmah points out the connection here. Many cultures elsewhere states that when Yeshayahu first mouthed the confer god-like status to human beings, which is words "Nachamu, Nachamu," the Jews wanted to kill him. It diametrically opposed to authentic . The generation is only when he completed his message with "says your of Jews who left knew Moshe as one who had grown God" that they were assuaged. The Jews at the time were up in their midst, and with all due respect to him, did not treat so distraught and in such despair that nothing short of a him as a deity. However, says the Meshech Chochmah, direct message of comfort from Hashem would do. Anything regarding the new generation who knew Moshe only as a less would ring empty of meaning and speak poorly of the godly leader who separated himself from his wife, did not eat messenger. When we as individuals are to the challenge for 40 days and nights, and otherwise was other-worldly, of having to offer comfort such as on the occasion of there was a real fear that he would be seen as an idol in the comforting mourners, we must be aware of the same most real sense of the word. Therefore Moshe had to die hazards of offering incomplete Nechamah. In essence, before they entered the Land, lest Bnei Yisrael make a saying "the right thing" at the right time is an art. mistake in this regard. How great must the precautions be Unfortunately, all too often, we are all called upon to be to avoid cardinal misconception in the basic tenets of artists. Judaism!

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QUESTIONS FOR PARSHAT VA’ETCHANAN 5777 by Rabbi Edward Davis, Rabbi Emeritus From the Text. 1. What will be Israel’s punishment for idolatry? (4:26, 27) 2. What was the first Moshe performed after delivering his words of reproach? (4:41) 3. What is another name for Mt. Sinai? (5:2) 4. For which Torah Mitzvot is the reward a long life? (5:16, 22:6-7, 25:15) 5. What Mitzvot are mentioned in the first paragraph of the Shema? (6:5-9)

From Rashi. 6. What event occurred that caused Moshe to feel that he might now be allowed to enter the Promised Land? (3:24) 7. Why did Moshe designate the three cities of refuge East of the Jordan when he knew that these cities could not function until the other 3 cities of refuge West of the Jordan were designated? (4:41) 8. Why is it required to serve Hashem with all our monetary resources? (Do we need to give everything to Tzedaka?) (6:5) 9. What should be the main topic of conversation between a man and his son? (6:7) 10. For how many generations will Hashem extend His reward to those who serve Him? (7:9)

From Midrash. 11. Who was the first person(s) to say the line Shema Yisrael? (Targum Yonatan 6:4) 12. Why were the “Ayin” and “Dalet” enlarged in the verse of Shema Yisrael? (Baal HaTurim 6:4) 13. Why does Hashem say He will reward His enemies in this world? (Targum Yonatan 7:10)

Haftorah. Isaiah. 14. According to the Midrash, to whom is the Isaiah addressing when he says: Comfort, Comfort My people?

Relationships a) Noach – b) Nachshon – Nadav c) Yishmael – d) – Avigdor e) Yocheved – Tamar

Tamar Aunt e)

Moshe) is (Avigdor Sister – Brother d)

Cousins First c)

Nachshon Uncle b)

Noach Grandfather a)

Relationships:

Moshe. and Yaakov, Yitzchak, Avraham, addressing is He 14.

come. to world the HaBa, Olam of part any em th denying world, next the in them destroy to order In 13.

God. of existence the to witnesses are Yisrael Bnei witness. – Eid word the form together Dalet and Ayin The 12.

idols. Lavan’s or Terach’s worshipped them of all or one that feared father their when akov Ya of children The 11.

generations. 1,000 : fear of out Hashem serve who those For

generations. 2,000 : love of out Hashem serve who those For 10.

Bam). (V’Dibarta Hashem of service the and Torah 9.

Tzedakah.) to everything give to required not is (It all. above be must Hashem of love but

lives; lives; their above wealth their value who those are There so. doing by resources our lose we if even Hashem serve to need We 8.

commandments. the of love his demonstrated Moshe possible. whenever Mitzvah a do You 7.

Land. Promised the in now was Moshe meant lands these Possessing . and Sichon conquered He 6.

Mezuzah. Tephilin; Shema); the recite to (minimally sons your to Torah teach to Hashem; love To 5.

measures. and weights honest having chicks; or eggs the away taking before bird mother the away sending parents; Honoring 4.

Chorev. 3.

Jordan. the of East refuge of cities three the designated He 2.

Exile. in population Jewish diminishing A Punishment: 1.

5777 VA’ETCHANAN PARSHAT FOR ANSWERS