 Torah Thoughts
This week we read a double Torah portion, BeHar
(Leviticus 25-26:2) and BeChukotai (Leviticus 26:3-27). We
conclude the third Book of the Torah, VaYikra (Leviticus).
BeHar contains 57 verses; 7 positive (“do”)
commandments and 17 negative (“do not”) commandments.
BeHar opens with a number of laws relating to
Eretz Yisrael (the Land
of Israel.) The laws of
the Sabbatical year and the Jubilee year remind us that the Land of Israel
belongs to G-d and that He gave it to His people as a special gift, a Land of
faith (see Haftara below.) The Torah continues with social laws protecting
the welfare of lower strata of society- the poor and slaves. Our portion
concludes a reminder not to worship idols, to observe Shabbat and to revere
the Sanctuary.
Haftara
The Haftara (excerpt from
the prophets) for the portion of BeHar comes from Jeremiah
(32:6-27). The Kingdom
of Judah teetered on
the edge of the abyss. The Babylonians were poised to conquer the Land and to
exile its inhabitants. The prophet Jeremiah had been arrested for warning the
people of the impending doom that would result from their flagrant flouting
of their covenant with G-d. Despite the ominous signs and the fact that
it was probably not a good time to invest in real-estate in Israel, G-d commanded Jeremiah to
purchase and redeem land that belonged to his relative. This echoes one of
the topics in our Torah portion- the redemption of land in Israel. Jeremiah’s purchase of
land at a time when the Jews were about to be exiled was symbolic of the
indomitable optimism that the Jewish People will eventually return to their
ancestral homeland. Despite the vicissitudes of our history, we will always
remain G-d’s treasured nation and our bond with the Land of Israel
can never be broken.
BeChukotai contains 78
verses; 7 positive (“do”) commandments and 5 negative (“do not”)
commandments.
The piece below has been adapted from the original
essay relating to this week's Torah portion, which was posted under
"Torah Thoughts".
Old News
History is a patient and methodical teacher. She
repeats her lessons time and again until even the most recalcitrant of
students has grasped the message. The Jewish People have an existential
obligation to be attentive and astute students of history since the message
she bears is none other than a measure of our very relationship with G-d.
The Torah portion of BeChukotai lays out the
consequences of the Jewish People’s adherence (or lack thereof) to their
Covenant with G-d. The terse list of blessings is followed by a
harrowing sequence of curses. Towards the end of the curses, there
appears to be an anomaly. Chapter 26, verse 39 tells us that the
surviving remnant will disintegrate in the lands of their enemies. The
next verse says that they will confess their sin for having betrayed G-d, and
for having behaved towards Him with casualness. One would expect this
confession to be the turning point which would restore their relationship
with G-d. Yet, in verse 41, G-d tells them that He will behave toward
them with “casualness” and will bring them to the land of their enemies, and
perhaps then their unfeeling heart will be humbled and they will gain
appeasement for their sin. Only then will G-d “remember” His covenant
with the forefathers and the land.
Why after their confession does G-d wish to continue
implementing the curse?
This question bothered many of the classical
commentators. Nachmanides takes a novel approach. He explains
that when G-d responds to their confession with a promise to bring them to
the land of their enemies, He is not speaking of the foreign lands of exile,
but rather He refers to the Land
of Israel. HaShem
will bring the people to the Land after many years of bitter exile. But
the suffering will not be over. Enemies will dwell in Israel together with the Jewish
People. These adversaries will inflict much hardship and pain.
This will continue until (v. 41) “Their (the Jews’) unfeeling heart will be
humbled and then they will gain appeasement for their sin.” So it seems
that G-d acknowledges the suffering in the Diaspora and the recognition of Am
Yisrael (the Jewish nation) of their wrongdoing, and rewards it by
allowing them to return to their Homeland. But the process of
repentance can only be completed when the Jewish People have humbled their
hearts.
Nachmanides explained the above in terms of the
destruction of the first Temple
and the return from the Babylonian exile. Nevertheless, as history
follows its spiral path, it passes the same points over and over again.
Perhaps we in the modern era have witnessed the recurrence of these
events. Following the Holocaust, the most traumatic event in Jewish
history after the destruction of the Temples,
G-d has allowed His people to return home. But the return has not been
peaceful. An implacable enemy had occupied our land during the years in
exile. They refuse to give us a moment’s peace. There are many
among us who have not yet “humbled their hearts.” There are those
who believe that our security lies solely in the hands of the Defense
Forces. Others believe it rests in the mouths of diplomats. Our lack of
humility manifests itself on an individual, interpersonal level as well. The
social discord and lack of respect for another’s opinion is rending the
fabric of our society, leaving room for the enemy to thrust his scimitar
deeper into our flesh.
Current events viewed through the Torah’s eternal
prism scream their message to the Jewish People loud and clear. We
are at the threshold of Redemption. We have but one obstacle. We
must develop the humility required to be true servants of HaShem. Only
then will HaShem “remember” His covenant with our forefathers and the Land
(verse 42), and the Jewish people will achieve their destiny of serving
HaShem at peace in our Land.
Haftara
The Haftara (excerpt from the prophets) for the portion
of BeChukotai comes from Jeremiah (16:19-17:14). The prophet rebukes
the people for their lack of faith in G-d. How true do his words ring today!
The price for not putting our trust in G-d – (17:4) “You will be forced to
withdraw from the Heritage (the Land
of Israel) I have given
you…” (17:5) “Cursed is the person who trusts in people and makes
mortals his source of strength and turns his heart away from G-d.” We see
today in Israel,
people putting their faith in politicians and statesmen. “The United States will guarantee Israel’s security”, “the
international community will protect us if we accede to terrorists’ demands”,
people cry, as they demand retreat and appeasement. The prophet reminds us of
what history has proven- the Jewish People cannot rely on the goodwill and
mellifluous words of anyone else. (17:13) “The hope of Israel is G-d…”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Baruch Price
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