Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Hello, my friends, and welcome back to this week's episode of the Practical Parsha Podcast. This is Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, and I hope you are well.
[00:00:07] We are back again for the last Parsha of the year.
[00:00:12] Next week, starting Friday night through Sunday night, will be Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
[00:00:20] And before we begin this podcast, I just want to wish each and every one of you, all the listeners, everyone that's part of the Practical Parsha podcast family Kseva v' Chasima Tovah, that you should be written and sealed for a good and sweet year for you, your families, and for all the Jewish people. I thank you for spending time each week listening to the Torah. Thoughts on this podcast should be a, uh, merit for you going into the new year.
[00:00:55] And I bless you that this year should be a year of growth and success in all your endeavors. Spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, everything good.
[00:01:10] And looking forward to hearing from you. So if you haven't reached out in the past, don't be shy, send me an email at rabbi shlomo kon kohnmail.com I'd love to hear from you and I look forward to sharing much Torah in the future, in the coming year, God willing.
[00:01:29] This week's Parsha is Parshas Nitzavim Vayelech. It's a double parsha.
[00:01:35] And as we're finally we're closing out the fifth book of the Torah, Parshas Nitzavim begins on the last day of Moshe's life, the last day of Moses life and Moshe Rabbeinu. He's about to pass on at the end of this day, before the Jewish people are going to go into the land of Israel, he binds the Jewish nation into one last final oath and covenant.
[00:02:06] And Parshas Nitav, just to give a quick overview, it deals with this renewal of this covenant between Hashem, between God and Jewish people, where Moshe Rabbeinu warns the Jewish nation against idolatry and from imitating the rights of the nations. And not just that, Moshe Rabbeinu discusses future generations, how the Jewish people are going to unfortunately fall into certain traps and how they eventually will get out of it. This week's Parasha we talk about the eventual teshuvah, repentance and redemption of the Jewish nation.
[00:02:46] Finally, Moshe finishes Parashas Nitzavim um, with a beautiful speech. How the Torah is accessible to all.
[00:02:56] It's not something which is foreign, which is hard to get to.
[00:03:01] It's something which is close to us.
[00:03:04] All we need is the Desire to get it.
[00:03:09] Finally, the Parasha finishes off with Moshe pleading to the Jewish nation after putting out in the past Parshios, the whole book of Devorah, the book of Deuteronomy, which is really, you know, Moshe giving over to the Jewish nation review, you know, from what Hashem wants from them. He makes a plea, he puts it out there. We've been telling the Jewish nation again and again and again the blessings that happen when we follow the Torah, um, and God forbid if we don't. He pleads with them to choose life. Parsha Zvayelech deals with Moshe Rabbeinu taking leave of the Jewish nation and handing off the leadership, handing the mantle of the Jewish nation to Joshua, to Yeshua to take over and to lead the Jewish people into the land of Israel. Parshas Vayelech also includes the Mitzvah of Hakel, where there's a commandment every seven years for the King of Israel to read portions of the Torah to the entire Jewish nation during the holiday of Sukkos. The first idea I want to share with you today takes us to the beginning of Parashas Nitzavim.
[00:04:19] Now, Nitzavim begins Moshe Rabbeinu's Moses speech to the entire Jewish nation on the day he is going to pass away and everybody is there, entire nation from young to old.
[00:04:33] And he's bringing Claud Yisrael, the Jewish people, into a. He's renewing this covenant with them.
[00:04:41] And part of renewing the covenant, Moshe Rabbeinu is reminding them about the blessings and the curses.
[00:04:49] And it's very interesting, the verses, the verse says, And it will be that when he hears the words of this imprecation, he will bless himself in his heart, saying, peace will be with me, though I walk as my heart sees fit, thereby adding the water upon the thirsty.
[00:05:24] So the meaning of this verse, what it's referring to, is that Moshe Rabbeinu is speaking to a certain type of person that when the Jewish nation are going to come into the land of Israel and they're going to go through this covenant of the blessings and the curses, where they have to say Amen, they have to affirm that all the good things will happen if we follow the Torah, and God forbid, if we don't follow the Torah, all the bad things that will happen, they have to affirm that as well.
[00:05:52] And he's saying there's going to be a certain type of person, possibly they'll say to himself, he'll say, you know, amen. He'll affirm his belief. He'll say the words. But in his heart, he'll say to himself, yeah, the curses, these things don't apply to me. Meaning even though I'm doing things maybe I'm not supposed to be doing, it's not me. It's referring to other people.
[00:06:17] And I think this is something on a simple understanding we could all relate to.
[00:06:20] There's such a thing as yenomites, right? Yinim and Yiddish. It's always someone else. We're thinking, you know, we don't think we could die.
[00:06:29] We think we're invincible. We're going to live forever. We're always thinking, you know, when bad things happen, we always think it happens to other people. Doesn't happen to us, won't affect us.
[00:06:39] Now, sure, we have challenges, but the point is, there's a certain mentality that, you know, when someone's speaking and there's, uh, a certain critical aspect, we think it doesn't apply to us. It's applying to the guy next to us.
[00:06:54] And Moshe Rabbeinu Moses is, you know, zeroing in on that guy and saying, don't think. It's not you. It's talking to you.
[00:07:01] Now, the Chofetz Chaim explains on this verse from Rebukhanan that the Chavitz Chaim used to say that this is referring to a certain type of person, that there's different types of people who do Averos, who sin.
[00:07:17] Now, we all have challenges, and we all have things we struggle with. And in life, we need to. We try. We're working hard to overcome our challenges.
[00:07:28] And we're gonna fall sometimes. That's the reality. God didn't create us as perfect.
[00:07:33] Uh, our goal is to get the perfect.
[00:07:36] But at the same time, there's another level of doing something wrong.
[00:07:42] Where a person makes it a philosophy, makes it a position.
[00:07:48] The thing that they're doing wrong, it's really right. It's really correct. They treat people a certain way.
[00:07:55] That's how I always do it. There's nothing wrong with it.
[00:07:58] Uh, that's how I am.
[00:08:00] That's how God made me. Right?
[00:08:03] And they take the cruel thing that they're doing or the bad thing that they're doing, and they make it something that's correct or something that's. That they're okay with. And that's almost as if this is like a mitzvah, that it's a commandment to do.
[00:08:21] Moshe Rabbeinu is referring to that person.
[00:08:25] That when a person, you know, there's a person shouldn't, when he hears these curses, the blessings and the curses, he shouldn't think to himself, you know, it's not me. I don't do anything wrong, right?
[00:08:38] And therefore the curses won't come upon me because I, you know, um, I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm doing only right things.
[00:08:44] That's, you know, and the verses go on to say that God's going to look at that person extra strictly.
[00:08:52] And I think the idea here is it's a very simple thought that, you know, we all have struggles with things we're working on, we want to work on, we want to be better.
[00:09:02] But it's important to separate, to not make a position out of the things we could be doing better.
[00:09:10] And because if we say that the things that we're doing which are not the best, and we say that's the right thing to do, there's no chance for us to change, to improve.
[00:09:21] So I think this is a special idea from this week's Parsha that when the Torah says the verse, part of the verse says, peace unto me, for I will go according to the images of my heart.
[00:09:31] That the curses won't apply to me because, uh, the way I see things, everything is right.
[00:09:38] And we have to remember that if we do that, we're just going to repeat that act again and again and again and lessen the chance of us ever improving to get rid of it.
[00:09:51] Another understanding of this verse about this fellow who Moshe Rabbeinu is talking about, where he says to himself, uh, the curses won't affect me and I'll do as I fit, is that the Pasuk Moshe Rabbeinu is referring to somebody who thinks themselves and says, you know what? I'm part of the community, and the community overall are good people.
[00:10:14] So I'll just do what I want within the community, and I'll be protected.
[00:10:19] You know, God won't notice me. So to say, I'm, um. With everybody else, everyone's pretty good, and I'll just do my thing. I'll blend right in and I'll do. And I'll just do my own thing, and that's it. I'll get away with it.
[00:10:32] And on that, Moshe Rabbeinu continues the verses and says, no, Hashem's going to notice, and he's going to be. Take care of him.
[00:10:39] Now, there's an important point to be brought out over here.
[00:10:44] We know that the measure for good is always better and much more powerful than the measure for quote, unquote, bad.
[00:10:51] There's an idea. And I think this is very important, especially coming into Rosh Hashanah, um, a new year, because we're all looking for ways to merit having a good new year. What can we do? What merits can we accrue?
[00:11:04] How can we be zoich ibadin? How can we get a good judgment for the upcoming year, God willing?
[00:11:11] And the Zohar brings down specifically regarding the idea of a community is that when one's part of a community, there is a certain lessening of judgment. Meaning this person, obviously there's something to what he's trying to do here, right? He wants to blend in the community. But the psukim say, no, you can't get away with it.
[00:11:34] But on the flip side, a person who is part of a community in a positive way, there's. It's, uh, a person. When he's judged individually, you're risking a much harsher decree.
[00:11:52] But when everyone's together as a unit, so then we make up for each other.
[00:11:58] What you're missing, I have. What I don't have, you have.
[00:12:02] And when it, you know, when we come to Hashem, we're part of something. We're part of a bigger picture.
[00:12:10] The benefit is extremely powerful.
[00:12:14] And I think this is something to remember going into Rosh Hashanah. And I think in general, throughout the year, when we're by ourselves, we're always more vulnerable, right? So they say, go in a group. When you're in a group, you're more safe. Why are you more safe in a group?
[00:12:28] Because people see a lot of people, they don't want to start up.
[00:12:31] You know, there's maybe there's a guy in there who's a, ah, karate dojo or maybe, who knows? But you're protected. There's a certain sense of protection in numbers and similarly in the spiritual realms. Now, obviously, we're responsible for our actions, but at the same time, there's a certain segula, there's a certain divine benefit, um, of being together with other good people that protects us.
[00:12:56] And I think we've seen this concept again and again and again, and especially if we get along with each other, we love each other, um, when there's a certain sense of unity and we're with others, we make up for our differences, right? Who wants to be one person standing under the microscope? Nobody. But when there's a lot of people, there's merits of many people and there's a bigger picture and there's a certain benefit for us to be part of a community. That we don't get looked at under the microscope by ourself, rather with the whole community as a whole.
[00:13:31] That's something which is usually beneficial for judgment. And you know what? It's not just in the spiritual sense that being with a community is important.
[00:13:41] When you're working, when you're with others, when you have a team, you could accomplish so much more.
[00:13:49] One person by themselves, we're limited. But when you have many people trying to fulfill a vision, the power of that is so much more impactful because there's many people trying to get to the same goal.
[00:14:07] I think it's important for us to remember we shouldn't just be in it alone, should be part of the bigger picture and you know, community minded, have that community minded mindset.
[00:14:22] Because God didn't just create us for ourselves, he created us to be with each other, to be with other people, to make other people happy, to make the world a better place. It's not just for us, it's for everybody. I think that's a powerful idea we see from this week's Parsha. The next idea I want to share with you takes us to the end of Parsha Haz nitzavim. Now the verses at the end is Moshe Rabbeinu giving a beautiful speech to the Jewish nation about how accessible the Torah is.
[00:14:52] Says, for this commandment that I command you today. It is not hidden from you and it is not distant. It is not in the heaven for you to say who can ascend to heaven for us to take it for us so that we can listen to it and perform it. Nor is it across the sea for you to say what? Who can cross to the other side of the sea for us to take it, for us so that we can listen to it and perform it. Rather, the matter is very near to you in your mouth and in your heart to perform it.
[00:15:22] Beautiful idea that Moshe Rabbeinu is conveying to the Jewish people that you can do it, you can fulfill the Torah, you can do the mitzvahs, you can get close to Hashem.
[00:15:33] And I saw a beautiful idea brought down by Rabbi Plisken in the name of Rab Chaim Shmuelevitz. He says, if you look at the verse Ki karev elecha davar meyd be' phicha ul vavcha la asoso. It says the matter is very close to you in your mouth and in your heart to do it. It's interesting. You look at the verse, it says it's very close to you.
[00:15:56] A lot Me' m od be' ficha in your mouth, Abu vavcha and in your heart, la soso. There's two descriptions there before. It actually talks about action because Judaism is a very action based religion.
[00:16:08] But at the same time we see it says it's very close in your mouth and in your heart to do.
[00:16:16] And he says, b' Chaim Shmuel Levitz explains on this that if a person makes a deep commitment within himself to change in his mind, maybe he verbalizes it, maybe he makes that real commitment that already is a huge step to actually seeing it through, to doing it to the action.
[00:16:37] It's in his mouth. He makes that commitment in his heart. He's ready to go and act. He's already a good way there. He just has to take that step forward. And Hashem, uh, will help him. This is a very important idea when it comes to things we want to accomplish in our lives.
[00:16:55] Now, obviously, talking about spiritual endeavors, first most important, Mitzvos and our relationship with Hashem seems distant at times. How am I going to accomplish this Mitzvah? How am I going to do the things I want to do to get close to Hashem?
[00:17:13] The answer is we need to make a realistic goal, have a real commitment and take that first step forward.
[00:17:20] But you know what? It's not just in spiritual endeavors as well.
[00:17:27] It's not just in spiritual, uh, endeavors.
[00:17:29] It's in the challenges and the goals we set for ourselves in life.
[00:17:35] Many times we see something in front of us which is a mountain. It's something which seems impossible m But at the same time, if we have that desire within ourselves and that commitment and we take that step forward, we're already a good way there.
[00:17:54] And many times you'll notice right away after you have that fire in your heart and you take that small action that you see the change already and people around you as well will feel it. And that's something we see in this week's Parasha. When it comes to Torah study, the most important thing and Mitzvos Kikarov, Aleha, Davar meod be' phichel vav chalas oso. It's very, very close.
[00:18:20] It's right in your mouth and in your heart.
[00:18:22] Just have to have that commitment and that desire to do it and then take that first step forward. And you're already a lot of the way there. The last idea I'm going to share with you today takes us to Parshas Vayelach just to share one thought in Parshas Vayelach the main theme of the Parsha is Moshe giving over the mantle of leadership to Yeshua uh, to Joshua. In the Parasha, Moshe tells Yeshua uh, as vayikra moisha leshua vayomerei lev lein leinei choliso chazak v' amat kyatavo esaom um haze el ha' aret Hashenishba Hashem lavosam los es lehem va' ata san tanhilena oisam. Moses summoned Joshua and he said to him, before the eyes of all of Israel, be strong and courageous, for you shall come with this people to the land that Hashem swore to their forefathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.
[00:19:16] Now, a simple meaning of this verse is that Moshe spoke to Yeshua, to Joshua in front of all the Jewish people, right? He says, in front of the eyes of.
[00:19:31] But on another understanding, a deeper meaning here, Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk. He explains it as follows, that Moshe Rabbeinu wasn't talking to Yeshua uh, in front of all the Jewish nation, but rather he was giving him advice onto how to be a leader, how to deal with the Jewish people. And what was he telling him? If you read the verse in the way that Rav Meir Simcha is understanding the verse, he's telling him that when you deal with as a leader, you have to deal with the people from position of strength.
[00:20:07] That when it. Obviously when you're a person and you're dealing with others individually, you have to have humility and kindness and caring and be calm at the same time. There is a place for every emotion.
[00:20:23] And when a person is dealing with as a leader, he needs to have a certain sense of steadfastness, a certain sense of courageousness, a certain sense of being tough. In a sense, you can't let people just run you over. And Moshe was telling Yeshua uh, that when you're in front of the eyes of Israel, when you're in a public setting, when you're acting as a leader, Chazak V' Amatz, strengthen yourself and be powerful.
[00:20:52] That he was telling him, you're going to lead the Jewish nation to the land of Israel. There's going to be situations when you're going to be viewed in public and people are going to challenge you, and you need to be strong and powerful. And leadership requires that you need to act from a position of strength. Doesn't mean that you have to run people over and treat them improperly. You always have to be kind and courteous and have that humility. But at the same time, you need to hold your ground at times. And that's what Moshe was telling Joshua, that when you're in a public setting, you're going to be the leader. Now make sure you act from a position of strength. And I think this is a very powerful idea to know. You need to be humble, you need to be kind, you need to be calm. But there are going to be times when you need to stand your ground and be strong, and especially when you're in a position of leadership to remember that to just because if not, you'll get eaten alive, Right? And it goes together. You don't. One is not exclusive of the other. Being strong and being humble, it can go together and it can be great. But something we need to remember when we're dealing with others, whether it be work, whether it be family, whether it be whatever it is to remember.
[00:22:07] Be kind, courteous, calm, caring.
[00:22:10] But sometimes in a public setting, when you're in a situation of leadership, you need to take a position of strength. So with that, I'm going to Vision for today's podcast. I hope you enjoyed. If you have any question, comments or would like to reach out, feel free to send me an email at Rabbi shlomo kon k o h nmail.com have a great day and Aksiva Vechasima Tovah A sweet new Year.
