“Vaetchanan el Hashem, I cried out Hashem at that time saying” (3:23).
Rav Shimshon Pincus was known for his brilliant Torah teachings and especially for his belief in the spiritual power of prayer. Tragically, he and his wife, Chaya Mindel, and their 18-year-old daughter, Miriam, were killed in a terrible car accident in Israel in 2001. He was 56 years old when he died.
After he died, Rav Shimson’s father told the story that even as a young boy, little Shimshon, already believed in the power of prayer. One time, when Shimshon was only seven, he asked his father to let him accompany him to shul. However, his father was unwilling to take him and therefore he didn’t fulfill Shimshon’s request. As his father was walking to shul, he had a change of heart and decided to turn around to bring Shimshon. As he got home, he found Shimshon waiting for him at the front door. He said to Shimshon, “What are you doing here?” Shimshon responded, “I prayed with all my heart that I would be allowed to go to shul and, I just knew that you would come back to get me” (story cited in Vekarata Leshabbat Oneg, volume 2, 398).
Vaetchanan means Moshe prayed to Hashem to be allowed to cross over the Jordan and enter into the Land of Canaan. The midrash says he prayed 515 times. This is based upon the fact that numerical value (gematria) of the word vaetchanan equals 515, and it also equals the gematria of the word tefillah (prayer).
Vaetchanan
Parashat Vaetchanan continues Moshe’s speech to the nation that began last week in Devarim, on the eve of his death. He imparts many pieces of wisdom and commandments onto them throughout Devarim. In chapter 4 verses 1& 2, Moshe says:
And now, O Israel, give heed to the laws and rules that I am instructing you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
You shall not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I enjoin upon you.
וְעַתָּ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שְׁמַ֤ע אֶל־הַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְאֶל־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְלַמֵּ֥ד אֶתְכֶ֖ם לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֗וּ וּבָאתֶם֙ וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר ה' אֱלֹקי אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶֽם׃ לֹ֣א תֹסִ֗פוּ עַל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָנֹכִי֙ מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִגְרְע֖וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ לִשְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־מִצְוֺת֙ ה' אֱלֹֽקיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶֽם׃
These simple words take on a variety of interpretations.
- Before studying any rabbinic interpretations - what do you think Moshe means when he says not to add or subtract from Hashem’s commandments?
- Rashi comments “For instance, to place five chapters in the tefillin (instead of four), to use five species of fruit and plants in the lulav, and to place five fringes on one’s garment. Thus, too, must we explain the following words ולא תגרעו, You shall not take anything away from it.” According to Rashi, what might our instinct be with regard to fulfilling the commandments? Why might we be inclined to add to the mitzvot? Why would we be wrong?
- Seforno comments “A person should not make the mistake made by King Solomon that he can ignore a prohibition since he knows the reason for the prohibition and can create conditions when such a prohibition would not be justified. [to explain: the Torah had forbidden a king to marry too many women, warning that these could lead him astray. Solomon relied on his wisdom not to lead him astray and ignored the Torah’s law with disastrous consequences for his kingdom.]” According to Seforno, what might our instinct be with regard to fulfilling the commandments? Why might we be inclined to add to the mitzvot? Why would we be wrong?
- What else would you add to these two interpretations?
Download a printable version here.
I need love, love to ease my mind
I need to find, find someone to call mine
But mama said you can't hurry love
No you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
You gotta trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes
But how many heartaches must I stand
Before I find a love to let me live again
Right now the only thing that keeps me hanging on
When I feel my strength, yeah, it's almost gone
I remember mama said
We’re not waiting at Ohev! It’s the holiday of luuuuv, as Rabbi Ambassador Kleinfeldt would say, Tu B’Av!! We think we know each other pretty well at Tot Shabbat, but I think we could get to know each other better. Not making shidduchim this shabbos, but trying to strengthen friendships! We’re going to do speed-friending!! Each kid will pair up with a kid they know comparatively less well and share something about themselves, such as their favorite food, favorite activity, and favorite superhero. They’ll have a minute to share, and then on to the next shidduch… I mean friend!
Yoni Friedman.
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