- This is How
G-d commanded us to perform all these decrees, to fear [have awe of] Yehova our God, for our good, all the days, to give us life… Deu 6:24
Chapter 9 – Va’etchanan / And I begged Deut 3:23 – 7:11
The ninth Chapter of this blog is based on the second Parasha in Devarim/ Deuteronomy named ואתחנן / Va’etchannan meaning ‘And I implored / begged’. [See here below in the section What we learn from the Hebrew] “Devarim 1:5 states that ‘Moses began explaining this Torah… saying’ The reason why the book of Devarim is so critical to understanding the purpose and scope of the Torah is because Moses explicitly stated that he would explain it. In other words, he’s going to help us understand it. He will tell us the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of the Torah. Therefore, we should expect Devarim to be a gold mine of treasures pertaining to the Torah.” (*1)
Deuteronomy”… is a fundamental theological statement of what Judaism is about. It is an attempt to integrate law and narrative into a single coherent vision of what it would be like to create a society of law governed liberty under the sovereignty of God: a society of justice, compassion, respect for human dignity and the sanctity of human life. And it is built around an act of mutual commitment, by a God to a people and by the people to God. The commitment itself is an act of love. At the heart are the famous words from the Shema in this week’s parsha; ”You shall love the lord your God with all your heart , with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5) The Torah is the fundamental narrative of the fraught, sometimes tempestuous, marriage between God and an often obstinate people. It is a story of love.” (*2)
We can identify 3 different types of commandments: Mishpatim (judgments / commandments) – these are ethical laws we can understand and that most societies themselves would establish, i.e. do not murder, be kind to your neighbor.
Edot (testimony/witness) Laws that a society would not necessarily have thought of like e.g. keeping the Shabbat, cities of refuge….
And Chukim (decrees/statutes) laws and principles that we do not understand, yet is a commandment from G-d like e.g. not to eat pork and the commandment regarding the Red Heifer. (*3)
The Commandments mentioned in this Parsha
1 Do not add or subtract from the commandments. Deu4:2
2 Guard your soul. Deu 4:9
3 Remember to teach your children Deu 4:9
4 Establish a place/ city of refuge Deu 4:41
5 Learn the commandments and be careful to preform them Deu 5:1
6 The Ten Commandments: 1.) יהוה /Yehova is your G-d. Deu 5:6-18
7 ( 2) You shall not have any other gods. Make a carved image, and worship them.
8 ( 3) You shall not take the name יהוה in vain.
9 (4) Observe the Shabbat and keep it holy.
10 (5) Honor your Father and Mother
11 (6) You shall not murder
12 (7) You shall not commit adultery.
13 ( 8) You shall not steal
14 (9) You shall not bear false witness.
15 (10) You shall not covet.
16 You shall not stray to the right or left of the commandments. Deu 5:29
17 Your G-d, the only one G-d, you shall love with all your heart, soul and resources. Deu 6:4,5
18 Teach the commandments to your children. Deut 6:7
19 Write the commandments on your heart, bind them as a sign on you and your home. Deu 6:6-9
20 In his name you shall swear Deu 6:13
21 Do not test G-d/ Hashem. Deu 6:16
22 Do what is fair and good. Deu 6:18
23 You shall not assimilate with the heathens around you. Deu 7:3
A Brief Discussion of the above Commandments
[1] Deu 4:2:- To add or subtract from the commandments means one thinks it is lacking and not perfect. In fact even if you think a commandment is antiquated or archaic, and surely do not apply to the 21st century, the essence and spirit of the commandment still stands! [*4] This we shall see in the following chapters as we discuss the laws stated in Deuteronomy.
“Torah is always the giver of light and we are always the recipients. In our learning we add nothing to it, we merely strive to uncover what was already there. But through the mitzvoth (commandments), we, both receive and give light…. Whereas the Torah exists externally in itself, the mitzvoth need the partnership of man…the commandments require physical acts and objects, and they change the fabric of the world.” [34.294]
[2] Deu 4:9:- Moses tells them to be careful to guard their souls, after he told them that the other nations will admire them for their Torah. Therefore do not become proud and arrogant and think that its they that are so wonderful and forget the miracles that they saw and witnessed; that these commandments were given by G-d; and forget to teach their children. In Deut 7:7 Moses informs them: ‘ Not because you are more numerous than all the peoples did י-הוה desire you and choose you, for you are the fewest of all the peoples. Rather because of י-הוה ‘s love for you and because He observes the oath he swore to your forefathers… (my underlinig)
“God does not forget. The basic question is whether you will remember or forget.” [32.165] To guard your soul to surely invite G-ds spirit, the Ruach Hakodesh , to live in your heart and soul; to avoid that which is evil and that what is an abomination to G-d; not to have that in your life, not to accept it, no to commune with it. [See also #9 here below]
[3] Deu 4:9:- This commandment in this verse not only from part of the Pesach ritual when at the family table to Pesach Haggada is read, it also forms part of the ‘Shema’ [see also Deu 6:7 #7 here below] Many years ago I read a little book by Margaret Marshal in which she referred to this Torah principle. It really struck a cord in me. I was forever mulling over the fact that the word of G-d would be read at school assembly; people would go to church; at national festivals there would be prayers to the Almighty, and yet there was little evidence of it in the day to day living and actions of individuals. Reading about that commandment ‘You shall teach them thoroughly to your children and you shall speak of them while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when u arise’ [Deu 6:7], struck me how this refers to the Hebraic /Jewish way where the teaching of, speaking about and doing (living/ asah) our faith in the Almighty Creator of the earth, starts at home. It is not enshrined in a special building out there, it’s here in our hearts, in our homes and our daily living and interactions.
[4] Deu 4:1:- One of the first tasks Moses had to perform when they entered the Holy Land, was to establish six Cities of Refuge. The Ten Commandments commanded not to murder, not to kill. But what if it was an accident? What should one do about the revenge the family or friends or group would feel? Causing somebody’s death by accident is an especially horrible thing. There is an interesting shadow image hidden in this commandment concerning the messiah. The person who accidentally kills someone, can escape to one of the cities of refuge, and has to stay there till the death of the High Priest in Jerusalem. It is told that the wife of the High Priest was so concerned that the guilty party would pray for the imminent death of the High Priest so that he/she can leave the City of Refuge, that she would send food to the refugee to keep him happy.
It’s interesting to see where this commandment occurs in the narrative. In fact this is one of the important factors to consider when studying Torah. The narrative is not always chronological and there is always a deeper meaning for that. Here we find this law place in between Moses’s exhortation to Israel to do the commandments diligently, and recalling the terrible sins they committed during the 40 years of travelling in the desert, especially their licentious behavior at Ba’al Peor [see Num 25]. He also mentions here the famous verse that is one of the many descriptions of the Holy One ‘For י-הוה, your God- is an all-consuming fire, a jealous G-d’. [Deu 4:24] and then in verse 31 ‘For י-הוה, your God, is a merciful God, He will not abandon you nor destroy you,…’which is the consolation they are told, after telling them that just as they bowed to Idols and followed pagan customs, so will their children’s children. But God is merciful and ‘…he will not forget the covenant of your forefathers that he swore to them’. [Deu 4:31b] And then this enigmatic verse follows: ‘Has there been anything like this great thing or has anything like it been heard’. [Deu 4:32b] Here it refers to the miracle of the Exodus and the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. But these words are echoed in Isiah 66:8 ‘Who has heard such as this? Who has seen such as these?’…- regarding to the Prophecy of the rebirth of Israel in 1948.
From the depths of despair where you [or this refugee or the Jews in the Galut] may find yourself, we read : ‘From there you will seek י-הוה your God and you will find Him, if you search for him with all your heart and and all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have befallen you, at the end of days (*5) you will return to י-הוה, your God and hearken to his voice.’ [Deu 4:29,30] Is thus hidden here in this commandment, that we are not perfect? We do sin and not always on purpose. Yet, our G-d is a merciful G-d and a forgiving G-d that makes provision for the payment due. There is redemption. Recall, the death of the High Priest, sets the refugee free.
[5] Deu 5:1:- Hear [שמע], O Israel, the decrees and the ordinances that I speak in your ears today: Learn them, and be careful to perform them.’ In Deu 4:40 Moses said: ’You shall observe His decrees and His commandments that I command you this day, so that He[G-d] will do good to you and to your children after you, and so that you will prolong your days on the land that י-הוה, your God, gives you, for all the days.’ Remember how I explained in Chapter 8, that this verse refers to the Shadow Image of how we get to Olam Haba [Heaven / the after life].
[6] Deu 5:6-18:- One can write a book about the well-known and famous Ten Commandments, (*6) in Hebrew referred to as Aseret Ha-Dibrot. Is it not phenomenal that these commandments can be understood by any person on earth and in every century. The main principle is that it basically teaches relationships. A Rabbi and Pastor, both confessed that what occupies them most concerning their congregants is problems with relationships.
A Commandment that is completely misunderstood by Jews as well as Christians is the Third Commandment: The Hebrew actually says [paraphrasing]: You shall not blot out/forget the name of G-d. In other words we are to KNOW His Name, remember it and not forget it. Nehemia Gordon did years of research and found thousands of examples of יהוה written with the vowel points in Hebrew. See “Shattering the Conspiracy of Silence”, especially p 93, written by him, no 59 in the Bibliography. He proves that the name is pronounced Yehovah. The priests are commanded to say and place this Name on Israel. Therefore, the Jewish tradition to not say this name is wrong and this tradition was caused by the Roman persecution! Watch also Dr Miles Jones discussing this
https://youtu.be/9D7QK1WFF_w
Dr Peter Hammond gave the following succinct framework for the Ten Commandments at a Biblical Worldview Seminar. Each command deals with a specific area; Each command includes a prohibition; Each command includes an implicit right and each command includes a call to action. It touches on the following ten aspects – next to it he gives examples of what it forbids:
G-d – – polytheism, pantheism, atheism
Worship – idolatry, statues, icons, pictures, films, false religious worship, a person;
Speech – profanity, false prophecies, blasphemy
Time – – desecration of Sabbath
Authority – disrespect, dishonor, disobedience
Life – – murder, abortion, euthanasia
Love- adultery, pornography, perversion, homosexuality & disregard for man/woman created in the image of G-d
Property – theft, socialism, laziness, bad stewardship
Truth – perjury, gossip, slander, media bias
Conscience – coveting, greed, selfishness, socialism (and exploitation because of greed, I need to add).
Obiedience to the Ten commandments will result in:
Respect for G-d, respect for people, respect for property
Commandments 1-4 is about our responsibility to G-d
The 5th is our responsibly to our parents
6-10 is our responsibility to people
The Ten commandments are the foundation for our rights:
Freedom of worship, the righto know G-d’s will and to do it,
Freedom of speech, the right to work and to rest
Respect for authority, the right to life, sanctity of marriage, private ownership of property,
The right to be protected from slander and freedom of conscious
Now I would like to quote Rabbi Yossy Goldman of Johannesburg’s eloquent discussion of the Ten Commandments, from his book [33.196-198] that was printed in my synagogue’s weekly schmooze.
“The 10 Commandments – No Multiple Choice”
“Often, I hear people say, “well I’m am not all that religious but I do keep the ten commandments.’ At such times I’m tempted to say, ‘Really? You know that the Ten Commandments are not multiple choice….’ I sometimes wonder if the people who glibly make that claim actually know what the Ten Commandments are…..
- I am the L-rd Thy G-d. Basically, this is the commandment to believe in one G-d. I have every confidence that we all get full marks on this one.
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me. O.K. so you don’t make a habit of bowing down to that bust of Buddha in your living room, the question is, should it be there in the first place? And isn’t it interesting that today we have all these idol competitions being run around the world. Then, of course, there are all those well-established contemporary idols we tend to ogle and worship.
- Do not take the name of G-d in vain. This is not only about taking the oath or swearing in court. What about swearing in the street? How many choice four letter words are in your vocabulary? And why drag G-d into those graphic expressions?
- Observe the Shabbat day to keep it holy. Interestingly the Ten Commandments appear twice in the Torah. In Exodus, the fourth commandment begins with Zachor – Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. This week, we read Shamor – observe the Sabbath day. ‘Remembering’ is achieved through positive acts such a Kiddush and candle lighting, etc. ‘Observing’ Shabbat is to guard it from any desecration, is the hard part. It may cramp our current lifestyles. That is where true commitment comes it. (my underlining)
- Honor thy Father and thy Mother. Many people do indeed fulfill this mitzvah in exemplary fashion. I stand in admiration of sons, and daughters, and often in-laws, who care for and tend to the needs of an aged parent or parent–in-law. They schlep, they cook, they humor and often tolerate irritable cantankerous elders. This commandment seems to get more difficult as time progresses. Yet the Torah makes no distinction based on age. It is our responsibility to look after our parents when they are dependent on us as they looked after us when we were dependent on them.
- Thou Shalt Not Murder. Well done. Here’s another easy on to fulfill. I’m sure not one of you reading this has ever murdered anyone. You thought of doing it, you almost did it but, in the end, Jews aren’t the murdering type. We can safely tick another one. [read also Matt. 5:21-25 I need to add]
- Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery. Ummm…Let’s move on to the next one. [Read also Matt. 5:27-29 -added by me]
- Though Shalt Not Steal. Strictly speaking this refers to kidnapping in particular. However, all stealing – including white collar method —apply
- Thou shalt Not Bear False Witness. How truthful are we? Even if we are not under oath, our word should be sacred… [Read also Matt.5:33-37- added by me]
10)Thou Shalt Not Covet. Not easy either. Commentary defines this injunction as a prohibition on badgering someone, or conniving, to acquire- even legally- that which belongs to another. Go get your own. Why must it be his spouse, house or car?”
Coveting does not only cause havoc within one’s heart but also can affect a community and even nations. History is replete with examples. (*7)
- [Commandments numbered 16,17,18 here above] Deu 5:29:- To not stray to the right or to the left of the commandments means only to follow G-ds way and not to ‘bending the rules’ or finding ‘loopholes’; or as is so popular today, to decide for yourself or according to the ‘group’ that you belong to. Not to follow today’s world views and opinions e.g. same sex marriages and gender fluidity. See also Deu 6:4 Read how Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explains The Shema: “As I have argued elsewhere, one of the most striking facts about the Torah is that, although it contains 613 commands, it does not contain a word that means “to obey”. When such a word was needed in Modern Hebrew, the verb Le-tzayet was borrowed from Aramaic. The verb used by the Torah in place of “to obey” is Sh-m-a. This is of the highest possible significance. It means that blind obedience is not a virtue in Judaism. God wants us to to understand the laws he has commanded us. He wants us to reflect on why this law and not that. He wants us to listen, to reflect, to seek to understand, to internalize and respond. He wants us to become a listening people… The deep truth behind person-centered therapy is that listening is the key virtue of the religious life. That is what Moses was saying through Devarim. If we want G-d to listen to us we have to be prepared to listen to him. And if we learn to listen to him, then we eventually learn to listen to our fellow humans: the silent cry of the lonely, the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, the people in existential pain. …..the very act of listening is a form of respect” (*9) (my underlining)
- [19] This commandment refers to the wearing of Tzitit and attaching a Mezuza to your home. These two commandments you have to do if you are a Jew or if you convert to Judaism. If you are a non-Jew, and you want to follow the commandment of wearing Tzizit, then do it at least according to the custom of Judasim. The finer details of what the tassels actually look like and are knotted like, is according to the Oral instructions given to Moses by G-d, in other words, the Oral Law. There are fascinating deeper meanings in the number of strands and knots. Also, if a non-Jew would like to fasten a Mezuzah to his house because he is proud to follow the Holy One’s Way, which he thus openly confess to the world, then this person and his household better follow the commandments with sincerity and commitment and thus not be an embarrassment to Judaism or G-d! I will always remember how my rabbi told us when he was growing up in Sydney, his father reminded them to be always aware of who and what they represent when going around wearing their kippa /yarmulkes.
- [23] Deu 7:3:- Today, when the promise of blissful multiculturalism is showing cracks in societies all over the world, this commandment needs serious reconsideration. It’s not just a warning to Jews, but all, listed in Deu 7:2-4 with the famous admonition: Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness…For you are a Dwelling place of the living Elohim as Elohim has said, ‘I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people…And I shall be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughter to me says י-הוה the almighty. [2 Cor 6:14-18]
“The unmistakable concern of the Bible is correct behavior. This point to the profound difference between the Jewish outlook and the philosophical worldviews of Plato and Aristotle: Whereas the philosophers were mostly interested in correct thought…Judaism is primarily interested with moral action.”[35.306] ‘so does G-d say, ‘Let the wise not be praised for his wisdom, let the strongman not be praised for his strength, let the rich man not be praised for his riches. Only in this regard shall one be praised: Be wise and know Me, for I am the Lord who does loving-kindness, moral justice and righteous compassion in the land, because these are what I desire, says the Lord,’ (Jer. 9:22-23)
What we learn from the Historical narrative
In the opening verses (Deu 3:23-25) of this Parsha we actually learn how to pray because of how Moses structured his prayer. He starts by praising G-d and acknowledging His greatness, before he utters his own request. We also note that he pleads with G-d. Yet, G-does not grant him his wish and Moses accepts that, for ‘For My (G-d) thoughts are not your thought and your ways are not My ways.’(Is 55:8)
Moses in recalling their past, what they have experienced since their miraculous exodus from Egypt and all through the past 40 years in the desert, clearly emphasize- what is a consolation to us too – that the Almighty Creator of this world is deeply involved in the life of every one of them (and us) [Read Deu 4:31,32]
We read an almost poignant aside said by G-d to Moses, when he remarks on the fact that Israel said: ושמענו ועשינו (we hear and we will do) before they even heard all of the commandments; ‘…they did well in all that they spoke. Who can assure that this heart should remain theirs…’ G-d says to Moses. [see Deu 5:25-26] And then they are actually told by Moses prophesizing that they will go astray, they will sin, they will bow down to idols, yet he assures them: ‘He is the God, the faithful God, who safeguards the covenant and the kindness for those who love him and for those who observe his commandments, for a thousand generations.’ [Deu7:9] Thereafter, the following verse clearly states: And He repays His enemies. Therefore, reading the text carefully we are told: G-d is faithful and kind but also just. He will repay them; they will be punished. The Promised Land is for those that do Teshuva – that is repent: ask for forgiveness and return to the right way.
What we learn from the Hebrew Words
“…men develop routines and practices, which over time crystallize into halakah – a ‘work of the flesh’ – in the form of a man-conceived pattern or routine as to how the mitzvah should be done. Hence, we have the ‘laws of mezuzah’ – a set of rules, not found in the Holy One’s Torah – about where to place and how to position a little box with a miniature scroll inside, on what doors while saying what blessings. There is nothing inherently wrong with this halakah. The fact that it is a work of the flesh does not, ipso facto, make it evil – it just means it has no power of itself. As long as the halakah does not nullify or distract from – the Spiritual reality behind the mitzvah of Torah to which it relates, and is recognized for the work of the flesh that it is, it does no harm, and can greatly assist in enjoyment and teaching of the mitzvah. But if the halakah ever is used as a standard by which to judge another – or is thought of as a means of ‘pleasing God’ – it has been misused.” (*8)
יראה / Yirat – Fear, Awe
“Yirat Adonai is to be the first and most basic element of our lives. It is the key that unlocks all the spiritual potential the Holy one has hidden within us. Without yirat Adonai we will very quickly veer to the right or to the left of the path the Holy One has chosen for us, becoming either lawless or legalistic. What does yirat Adonai mean? It does not mean that we think He is angry at us, or to be afraid He will squash us like a bug. The Hebrew word our English bibles translate “fear’ is a form of the Hebrew verb Yare, meaning to feel awe in the Presence of, and to respect and reverence as totally transcendent in power, beauty, and holiness” (*8)
שמע / Sh’mah – Listen
“The Hebrew word for this is the verb root sh’ma, which is sometimes translated as listen, sometimes as hear, and sometimes as obey. The word means all of these things, and much more. We are not just to listen for and to what the holy One is saying, Beloved. We are to adopt His directives as the center of gravity of our thought-life, our self-talk, our conversations, our reactions and our behaviors. We are to intensely focus our attention and energy on the Holy One’s pronouncements. As a plant stretches out in the direction of the sun to receive its life giving rays, so our necks and spiritual ears are to be continually stretching toward the Divine Bridegroom’s Words, endeavoring to hear every word and receive every life-giving instruction for living exactly as the Lover of our soul spoke it. The study of Torah is not an academic exercise. Neither is Torah submission a ‘work of the flesh’. Both Torah study and observance are natural responses to the prophetically empowering Voice of the Holy One” (*8)
דברת בם / dibarta bam – you are to speak to them
“Torah, you will find, speaks over and over again about the transmission of Torah from fathers and mothers to their children…Successful Torah teaching does not come from lesson plans. It comes, instead, from life. A parent whose heart is submitted to the Holy One and whose life is submitted to his Torah teaches Torah 24/7/365 by how he/she lives, by how he/she communicates, by how he/she deals with life’s challenges, and by how he/she responds to good -and bad- circumstances. Torah is taught by modeling the Torah lifestyle. The Holy One contemplated that we would teach our children His mitzvot by letting them see us day in and day out, setting the Holy One’s words constantly before us – before our eyes, on our doors and our gates. The Holy One contemplated that we would teach our children His mitzvot by having them watch us struggle to make and keep the Holy One’s Torah the most pervasive influence in our lives.” (*8)
עשה / asah – to do
“The meaning of ‘asah’ is to take the Torah/ Scripture / your faith, from the realm of theory and words into the realm of concrete, functional reality, i.e. as a potter takes a lump of clay and makes a jug, To asahG-d’s instructions/ commands, means more than to ‘do’. It means to interact with material the way a potter interacts with clay. It means to make visible and tangible that which was only spoken or thought or believed. To asah G-d’s instructions/commands, means to build them into something visible, tangible, for all to see. To do the commandment makes it so much greater, fuller, then just the peshat meaning of the words. ” (*8)
FOOTNOTES
*1 Robinson, Tony. https;//irpcdn.multiscreensite.com/0da55621/files/uploaded/Vaetchannan_E9A2qzLDR3qeQYJYEIWw.pdf
*2 Sacks, Rabbi Jonathan, Making Love Last Va’etchanan 2018/5778
*3 A Christian will understand the shadow images of this commandment
*4 Remember what Yeshua ben Joseph [Jesus] said: “ Do not think I came to destroy Torah or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and earth pass away, one yod or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.” [Matt 5:17,18]
And to illustrate and explain what he means with to complete or fulfill them, – what the actual essence of the law is – he gave 8 examples: for instance ‘You shall not murder, ‘and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that whoever is wroth [angry] with his brother without a cause shall be liable to judgment, And whoever says to his brother ‘Raka!” shall be liable to the Sanhedrin, But whoever says,’ You fool! Be liable to the fires of GeHinnom” [Matt 5:21,22] Note: a Yod and a Tittle are of the smallest letters and markings in the Hebrew manuscript.
*5 This is the Biblical and Hebraic way of saying The End Times , when the Messiah will appear
*6 Again I need to remind the reader that the Ten Commandments does not appear in the Koran, Hadith or Sura
*7 read also: http://www.aish.com/jw/s/The-10-Commandments-Today.html
*8 Bill Bullock. Studies for Parshot Va’etchanan http://mail.google.com/u/0/?tab=wm#label/Bill+Bullock/164dd36db46782e1
*9 Johnathan Sacks. His discussion concerning Parasha Va’etchanan: First you must listen, Covenant and Conversation, 14 Aug.2014,