Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Ki Tavo כי תבא – A Knowing Heart

At the conclusion of parshas Ki Tavo Moshe tells the people that that, "Hashem did not give them a heart to know, eyes, or ears to hear until this day", (Devarim 29:3). The speech is given on the plains of Moav on the approach to the Holy Land. Moshe reminds them of the miracles G-d performed for them during the exodus from Egypt. He recounts their crushing victories over the two Amorite kings and the resultant seizure and settlement of their land. He repeats that they did not eat bread and wine and that their clothes did not wear out during their sojourn in the desert. All of this was so that they should know, "I am Hashem your G-d", (Devarim 29:5).  

Rashi explains that the "knowing heart" is one that recognizes the benevolence of HaKadosh Baruch Hu and wishes to cling to him. He continues that the day on which this statement was made was the day that Moshe rabenu gave a sefer Torah to the Levi'im. The other tribes of Israel complained that the Torah was given to all of them on Mount Sinai not just to one group. Moshe was very happy and responded today I understand that all of you desire and wish to cling to the Omnipresent.

The Sifsay Chachamim develops the Rashi saying that when the nation understood the miracles and wonders G-d had performed on their behalf, it was as if they had no eyes or ears before. He continues that in recognizing the benevolence of the Omnipresent they also recognized that all of their virtues, greatness, and glory come from Him. In addition all of their prosperity comes from the Omnipresent and not from the power of their own hands. Once they understood this, their comprehension of G-d increased and they were then able to accept this bris and become the nation of G-d. Among the places that the nation saw the benevolence of G-d was in their victories over Sichon and Og. With this they saw that the wisdom of G-d was the Torah and the mitzvahs and that their success came through fulfilling their mandates.

Ethics of our Fathers (5:24) teaches that at the age of forty a person acquires understanding. Also, in explaining Moshe's discourse, many commentaries bring the Gemara (Avodah Zarah 5b) that a student does not fully appreciate the teachings of his rabbi until after 40 years. Based on this the modern commentator Rabbi Yissocher Frand says, "A certain maturity comes with age", (http://www.torah.org.il/learning/ravfrand/5769/kisavo.html). The Sforno states that reason they could not comprehend these truths was because of their many quarrels. However once they were able to defeat the two Amorite kings and receive a portion of land, they recognized the benevolence of G-d towards them in the wilderness. After that they were able to properly incline their hearts and after that G-d in turn gave them a knowing heart. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz seems to reckon a knowing heart as a result of a developmental process that starts with a commitment "to absorbing the poetry and the principles, and carrying out the commandments all the days of one's life". In addition the knowing heart is the inner meaning of, "We shall do and we shall hear", (http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2888/jewish/Torah-Eternal.htm).

The Avi Ezer explains that up until this point they were not capable of easily accepting knowledge and wisdom.  Everything, though, is according to the place and the time. He continues that it is the way of a donor is to mention to the recipient how and what it was like before he received the gift, and who gave it to him. Also, just like the recipient will seek out the correct reasons he gave it to him, and its benefits, he will seek to fulfill the donor's desires and greatly publicize the issues that are associated with these truths.

A person can be fit for an encounter with HaKadosh Baruch Hu based on maturity and personal growth. However the time, place, and circumstances of this encounter are determined by heaven. When a person's eyes are opened to the benevolence of Hashem, it makes an impression and a person remembers the surrounding situation. In addition these surroundings become objects of love and fascination, because, this is where G-d was revealed to him. What this means is that in the national consciousness of the Jewish people G-d is to be found somewhere in these words. This would include victory in battle, the threshold of the land of Israel, the miracles in Egypt, parnasa, and the five books of Moses that we have in our hands today.


To view on YouTube click:
A discussion about how the circumstances in which a person's eyes are opened to religion make an impression. Avinu Malkeinu sung at 5:36


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