Beit Midrash

  • Torah Portion and Tanach
  • D'varim
קטגוריה משנית
  • Shabbat and Holidays
  • The Three Weeks
To dedicate this lesson
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The parsha of Dvarim traditionally precedes the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, Tisha b’Av. There are many connections between the parsha and the fast day but I feel that the main connection lies perhaps in the word "dvarim" itself. The word means "words" and as Rashi points out the nuance of the word in Hebrew is almost harsh. The words of Moshe in Dvarim are stern and reprimanding. They are the bitter truth that people are so loath to hear. Soothing promises and vague commitments are much more popular and acceptable to the public. The rabbis of the Midrash stated that the statement of Solomon that it is better to hear criticism from a true friend than to hear flattery and compliments from an enemy are always to be remebered. The enemy that the Midrash refers to is Bilaam and the friend is Moshe. The flattery of Bilaam led eventually to thousands of deaths among the Jews. The words of Moshe have preserved the Jewish people for countless generations. And this is the story of Tisha b’Av and its connection to the parsha and the word "dvarim." The prophets of Israel, Yeshayahu, Yirmeyahu, Amos, Hoshea and others all spoke harsh words to Israel and warned of the impending tragedy. The false prophets who are always to be found in our midst retorted with soothing words and lies that were sweet to the ears of the public. Thus the destruction of the Temple and Jewish sovereignty became inevitable. We always prefer to hear sweet lies than to have to listen to harsh and painful truths.

The haftorah of Shabat Dvorim is always the first chapter of Yeshayahu which begins with the Hebrew word "chazon." In fact, the Shabat preceding Tisha b’Av is always named Shabat Chazon after this first word of the haftorah of parshat Dvarim. "Chazon" means vision, prophecy. Vision can be positive or otherwise. A madman has a vision of world domination and the extermination of other human beings. A righteous person has a vision of a better, more peaceful, more moral society and world. The great Chasidic masters stated that a person is judged in heaven not only on what the person, accomplished, did and omitted to do. A person is judged on what were the visions and goals that motivated that person in this world. It is not only what a person is, it is also important to realize what that person wishes to be in order to be able to judge the person correctly. Though "chazon" can many times indicate a negative or sad prophecy, the word itself is a neutral one. One can choose whatever vision one wishes to choose. Therefore Yeshayahu chooses the word "chazon" to begin his book of prophecy. What is the vision of the Jewish people? What kind of a nation do they wish to be? This choice is particular and pertinent to individual human beings as well. Hearing the words of Moshe and of Dvarim can be an immense help to us in deciding what our "chazon" - national and individual should be.
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  • Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
    Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
  • Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
    Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
  • Rabbi Avraham Shapira Zt"l
    Rabbi Avraham Shapira Zt"l
  • Rabbi Ya'akov Shapira
    Rabbi Ya'akov Shapira
  • Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
    Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
  • Rabbi Shimon Klein
    Rabbi Shimon Klein
  • Rabbi Shlomo Fischer zt"l
    Rabbi Shlomo Fischer zt"l
  • Rabbi Zalman Nehemiah Goldberg
    Rabbi Zalman Nehemiah Goldberg
  • Rabbi Dov Lior
    Rabbi Dov Lior
  • Rabbi Moshe Eliya
    Rabbi Moshe Eliya
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    4 min
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    Beha'alotcha

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    Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Sivan 10 5782
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    Kohanim

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    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Sivan 9 5780
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    Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Sivan 7 5779
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    Beha'alotcha

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    Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon | 5778
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    Beha'alotcha

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    The Torah, in our parasha, discusses uses of the chatzotrot (trumpets) that Moshe made. After mentioning their use in war (Bamidbar 10:9), it says: “On the day of your joy, your special days, and your new months, you shall blow the trumpets over your offerings” (ibid. 10). Is there a connection between wars and days of joy? Also, what is this day of happiness, if the yamim tovim are referred to with the next word? The Sifrei (Bamidbar 77) brings two opinions: Shabbat (during the time of the Shabbat offerings); the daily set offerings. The Ibn Ezra explains that the trumpet blasts that were done on Shabbat during the offerings made the people concentrate on their connection to Hashem.

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    Prayer

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    Chapter five-part two

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    Beha'alotcha

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    The process and commandment of lighting the menorah served as a constant reminder to the High Priest of the important role that he was to always play in the furtherance of Torah and holiness in Jewish society.

    Rabbi Berel Wein
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    Basics of Financial Laws

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    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5770
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    Berachot - Blessings

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    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5770
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    Redemption - Geula

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    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Iyar 5768
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    The Laws of Three Weeks

    Remembering the Temple's Destruction

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    Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
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