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
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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