Feature Tidbit One Defines the Other Personal note: As was the case on recent sad occasions in our family when Torah Tidbits either did not come out or was on the skimpy side, so it is with happy family occasions. It is comforting and gladdening to have to share Torah Tidbits preparation time with taking our daughter to the Chupa and all that goes with it.My father's prayer and bracha to my Miri and her David is that they both individually and together walk the path of enthusiastic and scrupulous observance of G-d's chukim and mitzvot and that they will merit G-d's boundless blessings of happiness, health, prosperity, and security in Eretz Yisrael. PC (ADP) One way or the other, B'har is followed by B'chukotai. And B'chukotai follows B'har. It either happens on one Shabbat (as it does this year), or one Shabbat after the other (as it will next year), or on one Shabbat in Chutz LaAretz and two in Eretz Yisrael (as it did last year). But B'har and B'chukotai are a matched set. Therefore, let's take the famous message of B'har and apply it as a definition for the deal that G-d makes with the People of Israel in B'chukotai. Parshat B'har is always read in close proximity to the 20th of Iyar, the date that Bnei Yisrael began its travels from Sinai after nearly a year at the place that they had experienced Divine Revelation and received the Torah. It is particularly appropriate that the sedra begins with the famous, "And G-d spoke to Moshe AT HAR SINAI saying..." Just as the mitzva of Shmita was given at Sinai in all its detail, so too were all mitzvot given with all their detail. This is one of several statements of a cardinal principle of Torah Judaism - that all of Torah is MiShamayim. Torah - both the Written Word and the Oral Law - is not Moshe Rabeinu's explanations and interpretationsof G-d's Words, but rather his transmission of the Word of G-d to all generations of the Chain of Tradition. This, then, is what G-d sets before us in B'chukotai. A "simple" straight deal. If we immerse ourselves in Torah, live a Torah life, keep the Mitzvot... then we as a People will merit beneficial and timely rainfall... prosperity, tranquility, peace, and security in our Land. If not... we're out of here, and terrible thingswill befall us, G-d forbid. What statutes, what mitzvot, what behavior is being demanded of us? All of it. Shmita, and not just token observance of it, but all of its details. Shabbat - the same. Not just the concept of Shabbat. Not just the spirit of Shabbat. The deal of B'chukotai is tied to the definitions of B'har. All the details are part of the deal. The Jewish People must keep the mitzvot completely, and with the proper intentions and enthusiasm. "I light candles on Friday. Sometimes I get home late and it's after dark, but at least I light. We don't keep Shabbat anyway." Not good. The deal includes much more. Even observant Jews have to take the Tochacha seriously and fine-tune and improve their commitment and observance. [The B'har-B'chukotai Homepage] |
