Hamaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Parashat Va'etchanan Volume VI/Number 44 (278) 16 Av 5752/August 15, 1992 "Shabbat Nachamu" The Gemara says that when R' Akiva once heard the sounds emanating from a large Roman city, he laughed. When asked why, he answered, "If Hashem allows those sinners to live in such contentment, imagine what is in store for us." Another time, R' Akiva saw a fox coming out of the ruins of the "Kodesh Hakadoshim" - the holiest part of the Temple - and again he laughed. This time he explained, "Just as the prophecy (Eichah 5:18), 'Foxes will walk there,' was fulfilled, so the prophecies of redemption will be fulfilled." R' Yitzchak Arama explains that R' Akiva was alluding to two ways of bringning about the redemption, both of which are also mentioned in this week's Haftara. The Haftara begins (Yishayahu 40:1), "Be consoled, be consoled, my nation," thus telling us that the prophet will now speak of the redemption. He says (verses 3- 4), "A voice is calling in the desert, 'Clear the way of Hashem, straighten the path through the wilderness...that which was crooked will become straight...'" One way to bring the redemption is to repent, to straighten that which was crooked. R' Akiva alluded to this when he said, "If Hashem allows those sinners to live in such contentment, imagine what is in store for us [if we will not sin]." However, even if we don't repent, the redemption must come eventually simply because Hashem so promised. Thus the prophet says (verse 7-8), "....[T]he nation is grass. The grass is dry, the blossoms have withered, but Hashem's word will always stand." This is what R' Akiva meant when he said, "[As that prophecy] was fulfilled, so the prophecies of redemption will be fulfilled." (Akeidat Yitzchak, ch.88) ************************************ "Hashem, Elokim, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness....let me cross [the Jordan] and see the good land." (3:24) R' Shlomo ibn Aderet ("Rashba") explains "Your greatness" as a reference to the wonders which Bnei Yisrael experienced at Har Sinai. Why did Moshe mention this in his prayer that he be allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael? Because perfect observance of the Torah can be done only in Eretz Yisrael. Moshe argued, "If you gave me the Torah, let me observe it properly." (quoted in Midrash Rabbenu Bachya) ************************************ "You have been shown, so that you will know, that Hashem is Elokim, there is none besides Him. He made His voice heard by you from the Heavens in order to rebuke you..." (4:35) The Torah is the greatest gift that Hashem has given us. Furthermore, it is the strongest proof of Hashem's power, for as the above Pasuk reminds us, Hashem performed great miracles and altered nature in order to give us the Torah and convince us of its truth. Even today, we can see miracles comparable to those which Hashem did for our ancestors if we reflect upon the fact of our existence in exile all these years. Not only do we continue to survive as a nation, we are physically and materially well-off. [Ed. note: This was written almost 1,000 years ago!] This is because Hashem has promised (Vayikra 26:44), "And even when they will be in their enemies' lands, I will not abandon or despise them." (R' Bachya ibn Pekudah: Chovot Halevavot, "Sha'ar Habechinah" ch.5) ************************************ "And you shall love Hashem, your G-d..." (6:5) Rambam writes: How does one come to love G-d? If a person will examine Hashem's deeds and His creations, he will realize that there is no limit to their greatness. Then that person will be filled with a great longing to be close to, and to know, Hashem. (Hil. Yesodei Hatorah 2:2) ************************************ "For I will die in this land, I am not crossing the Yarden [River]." (Devarim 4:22) The Midrash says: Why did Moshe die in the desert? So that at time of the future resurrection he can bring the Jews who died in the desert to Eretz Yisrael. R' Yom Tov ibn Ashbilli ("Ritva") writes that if one vows, "So- and-so may never enter my house," the prohibition applies only to the house that is then standing. However, if it should collapse or be destroyed, and a new house is built, the vow is considered absolved. Hashem took such a vow regarding the generation of the Exodus, as we read in Tehilim 95:10-11 (and in our "Kabbalat Shabbat" prayers): "For forty years I put up with a generation...I have sworn in My anger, 'They shall not come to My resting place'." However, once Hashem's "resting place" - the Bet Hamikdash - has been destroyed and rebuilt, Hashem is released from His vow, and that generation may finally enter Eretz Yisrael. Chazal say that if Moshe had entered Eretz Yisrael, he would have built the Bet Hamikdash immediately. We are also taught that nothing that Moshe built was ever destroyed. (For example, the "Kelim" - Temple implements - which he made remain hidden, but are still whole.) Thus, if Moshe had entered Eretz Yisrael, Hashem's "resting place" would never have been destroyed, and the generation which died in the desert could not return in the future. (R' Yehuda Roseannes: Parashat Derachim, D'rush VIII) ************************************ Ritva's view of the above Halacha is not universally accepted. Some say that the destruction of the house does not absolve the vow. However, writes R' Chaim Yosef David Azulai ("Chida"), even according to those authorities the generation of the desert will be allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael after the future resurrection. Hashem's statement, "I have sworn in My anger, 'They shall not come to My resting place'," informs us that only as long as Hashem remains angry may that generation not enter Eretz Yisrael. However, Hashem's anger is not eternal, and even that generation will be forgiven. (Rosh David) ************************************ Biographical Notes on the sources quoted in this issue R' Bachya ibn Pekudah: Spain, early 11th century; served as "Dayan" (rabbinical court judge) in Saragossa, Spain; wrote Chovot Halevavot, a classical "Mussar" work, circa 1040; not to be confused with Rabbenu Bachya ben Asher, the Torah commentator. Rashba: Born 1235 in Barcelona; studied under Ramban and R' Yonah; wrote commentaries on most of the Talmud; was the outstanding "Posek" (Halachic decisor) of his generation, and wrote several Halachic works; died 1310. Ritva: Lived in Spain in early 1300's; was a student of Rashba and Ra'ah; wrote commentaries on most of the Talmud, and also a Torah commentary defending Rambam's views against Ramban's objections. R' Yitzchak Arama ("Ba'al Ha'akeidah"): Born 1420; served as Rabbi in several Spanish towns; is best known for his Torah commentary, Akeidat Yitzchak; according to "Chida", "virtually all succeeding works [of Jewish philosophy] drank from the reliable waters of Akeidah;" left Spain with the expulsion; died in Naples in 1494. R' Yehuda Roseannes: Born in 1657; was a descendant of R' Yosef Chaviva (Spain, 14th century), author of Nimukei Yosef; served as Rabbi in Costa, Turkey; wrote Mishneh L'Melech on Rambam's code; died in 1727; was grandfather of R' Yaakov Culi, author of Me'am Loez. Chida: His ancestors settled in Yerushalayim and Chevron after their expulsion from Spain; he journeyed through Europe as a fundraiser, and used those travels to investigate the authorship of many Torah works; himself wrote more than seventy works on Torah, Halacha, Kabbalah, history, and bibliography; died 1806 in Livorna, Italy. Note: Biographies which have already appeared in this series will not be repeated. ************************************ The learning schedule for this Shabbat is: Mishnah Yomit: Parah 3:4-5 (Learn two Mishnayot every day) Halacha Yomit: OC/MB 455:1-3 (Learn three paragraphs every day) Daf Yomi: Yevamot 48 (Learn two sides of a page every day) Rambam Chapter/Day: Hilchot Ayvel - Chapter 6 3 Chapters/Day: Hilchot Sanhedrin - Chapters 19-21 Sefer Hamitzvot Sh:N280,P177,N276,N274; Su:N315,N281,N316; M:N317,P178; Tu:P179; W:N291; Th:N288; F:N286 ************************************ The hard copy distribution of this week's Hamaayan is sponsored by: Richard and Estelle Harris on their 30th wedding anniversary ************************************ Donations to Hamaayan are tax deductible