Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Netsavim – VaYelech נצבים-וילך –Those Who are Not

In the double parsha Netsavim-VaYelech Moshe assembles the nation to induct them into the covenant with Hashem. The bris has various aspects among them one of national mission. In this case it is specifically that the descendents of Ya'akov will be a sacred people and a kingdom of priests. In connection with this the Five Books of Moses will be their code and guide to life. A new generation has emerged and it is one that wishes to live according to the laws of the Torah and desires the land promised to the patriarchs.

This induction has positive and negative aspects. On the positive side are the blessings of observance and the greatness of the land of Israel. On the negative side is a lengthy litany of curses if the covenant is abandoned. So to speak, it is an expression of love, the nation is saying if we don't keep live up to this role all sorts of terrible things should happen to us. The curse is also meant as a harangue addressed to future generations which may not wish to keep the Torah. The hope is that out of fear of the curses they will turn towards the blessings.

The declaration that this is a national mission is the verses, "It is not with you alone that I am establishing this covenant and curse. Rather it is with those here with us standing today before Hashem our G-d and those that are not here with us today", (Deuteronomy 29:13-14). The Midrash Tanhuma notes that the word "standing" is not used in connection with those who are not with us today and explains that this refers to future generations whose souls were present but their bodies still had not been created. So to speak the souls of all the generations the Israel were present and freely accepted the covenant.

The Sifsay Chachamin brings the expression that the son is like the thigh of the father בספר יונת אלם לרמ"ע)). The Rabeinu Bechai elaborates that the father is the root and the children are like branches that sprout from it in the future. Therefore the root is able to bring these curses onto the coming generations. As a result agreements made by the fathers will be applied to their descendents as well. The Sforno applies this to the giving of the Holy Land to the children of Israel saying that the gift of the land is conditional upon fulfillment of the covenant and that it is through the covenant that the land is a heritage. To a certain extent all of this is an extension of the idea that the actions of the fathers are signs to the children.

An important concept is that a nation and a father's line are entities in and of themselves. Therefore the actions of a nation become part of all of the individuals comprising that nation. In addition the actions of the fathers will be manifested in the children. Therefore the acceptance of the bris, first by the patriarchs, then by the nation of Israel in the desert, is part of the Jewish people today and each and every Jew as well.

Included in the idea of a bris with G-d is that G-d may manipulate or even change nature so that the promise can be fulfilled. This is seen in the Rashi concerning G-d's covenant with Noah (see Genesis 6:18). He explains that G-d changed nature so that the fruits and vegetables would not rot for the full year they were stored for food during the great flood. In addition, because of the covenant, the malevolent of Noah's generation could not kill him as they wished to do. The word bris is also used in connection with the laws of heaven and earth, and is compared to G-d's commitment to return the exile of Ya'akov (see Yirmiyahu 33:25-26). As a result once the nation of Israel agreed to become a kingdom of priests they were given the capabilities to fulfill this mission. A corollary is that any use of these talents not in the service of this mission would be an abuse and a violation of the covenant. In addition the hand of Providence would guide them to its fulfillment.




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A discussion of how the decisions of a nation influence its individuals now and in future generations.
Artsa Alinu (ארצה עלינו) sung at 7:08

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