When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned about Parashat Devarim (דְּבָרִים), the 44th weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings, respectively.
I also learned this week as known as Shabbat Chazon (שבת חזון), taking its name from the Haftarah that is read on the Shabbat immediately prior to the fast of Tisha B’Av. Shabbat Chazon is also referred to as the “Black Sabbath” due to its status as the saddest Shabbat of the year, in contrast with the “White Sabbath”, Shabbat Shuvah, immediately proceeding Yom Kippur.
According to Wikipedia, Devarim (דְּבָרִים), Deuteronomy 1:1 through 3:22, contains 5,972 Hebrew letters, 1,548 words, 105 verses and makes up 197 lines of the Torah scroll. Devarim recounts how Moses appointed Chiefs, tells the tale of the episode of the Twelve Spies and close encounters with the Edomites and Ammonites, the conquest of Sihon and Og, as well as the assignment of land for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Devarim:
“This Shabbat, which always occurs before the fast of Tisha B’Av, is known as Shabbat Chazon (the Sabbath of the Vision of Prophet Isaiah), which is read in mournful tones used in reciting the Lamentations. In the Sedra Devarim, we also are listening to Moses first discourse to the Jewish Nation in his final weeks of life. He also uses the word “Eicha” which means “alas how?”. Moshe Rabbeinu takes time to review all the events of the past 40 years. He does not hide behind words, but instead, delivers a Mussar (rebuke) which reminds the new generation of the mistakes and shortcomings of the previous generation that exited Egypt.
Moses reminds Klal Yisroel that they circled Mount Seir (the mountain of the Edomites) many times. Why was this necessary? What were the people trying to accomplish by doing this? Rabbi Rogov z”l points out that this was the Nation of Israel attempting to ingratiate themselves to Esau’s descendants, the Edomites. At that point, the Rabbi says, we are given the directive to stop circling and move forward.
Too many Jewish people, especially in America and other places in Galut, expend enormous amounts of time, energy, and money, trying to fit in to American culture. They are insecure about their own existence! Instead of taking pride in our heritage, they try to fit in and they attempt to shed their Jewishness – circling aimlessly around the mountain of Edom. But G-d tells us “move forward”. You cannot make true progress copying other people. You can only progress by being yourself and accepting the importance of Torah in your life! It is only through our devotion to Hashem and to Torah and Mitzvot that we can heal ourselves and make our lives truly meaningful.
Questions to Consider
- Moses blesses the People by saying “May he bless you so many more like you will come.” To whom was he referring?
- Why was it necessary for Moses to repeat the entire Torah to Klal Yisroel?
- Why are the descendants of Lot given a double portion of inheritance?
- Moses says that G-d will carry Israel on “eagles wings”. During which modern Aliyah to Israel did the people refer to this line?
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his shicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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