RABBI DAVID ETENGOFF: PARASHAT HASHAVUAH
  • Blog: Rabbi David Etengoff: Parashat HaShavuah
  • Sefer Bereishit 5784&5785
  • Sefer Shemot 5784&5785
  • Sefer Vayikra 5784&5785
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5784 &5785
  • Sefer Devarim 5784&5785
  • Sefer Bereishit 5782&5783
  • Sefer Shemot 5782&5783
  • Sefer Vayikra 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5782&5783
  • Sefer Devarim 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bereishit 5780& 5781
  • Sefer Shemot 5780&5781
  • Sefer Vayikra 5780&5781
  • Sefer Bamidbar 578&5781
  • Sefer Devarim 578&5781
  • Sefer Bereishit 5778&5779
  • Sefer Shemot 5778&5779
  • Sefer Vayikra 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5778&5779
  • Sefer Devarim 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bereishit 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bereishit 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bereishit 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bereishit 5771&5770
  • Sefer Shemot 5776&5777
  • Sefer Shemot 5774&5775
  • Sefer Shemot 5772&5773
  • Sefer Shemot 5771&5770
  • Sefer Vayikra 5776&5777
  • Sefer Vayikra 5774&5775
  • Sefer Vayikra 5772&5773
  • Sefer Vayikra 5771&5770
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5771&5770
  • Sefer Devarim 5776&5777
  • Sefer Devarim 5774&5775
  • Sefer Devarim 5772&5773
  • Sefer Devarim 5771&5770

9/25/2012

Parashat Haazinu, 5773, 2012: How to Authentically Serve Hashem

0 Comments

Read Now
 
                                Parashat Haazinu, 5773, 2012:

                              How to Authentically Serve Hashem

                                        Rabbi David Etengoff

Dedicated to the sacred memories of my mother, Miriam Tovah bat Aharon Hakohen, father-in-law, Levi ben Yitzhak, sister-in-law, Ruchama Rivka Sondra, my sister, Shulamit bat Menachem, and Shifra bat Chaim Alter, and the refuah shlaimah of Yosef Shmuel ben Miriam, Yehonatan Binyamin Halevy ben Golda Friedel, and Moshe Reuven ben Chaya.

Some pasukim (verses) of the Hebrew Bible are “luckier” than others. Their frequent repetition has enabled them to become active components in the liturgical repertoire of the Jewish people. The beginning of our parasha (Torah portion) contains an example of such an oft-quoted verse: “Ki shame Hashem ekra havu godel l’Elokeinu” (“When I call out the name of the L-rd, ascribe greatness to our G-d;” this and all Bible and Rashi translations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach). Rashi, the Prince of Commentators, explains our pasuk in the following manner:

When I call out the name of the L-rd: Here the word כִּי means “when,” just as [it also means “when” in the verse]:“When (כִּי) you come to the land…” (Sefer Vayikra, 23:10). [The meaning of our verse is therefore:] When I call out and make mention of the L-rd’s name, you shall ascribe greatness to our G-d, and bless His name. From here, our Rabbis derived [the rule] that [the listeners] should respond: “Blessed be the Name of His glorious Kingdom [forever and ever]!” after [every] blessing [recited] in the Temple [instead of “Amen,” which is the response outside the Temple]. — [Talmud Bavli, Ta’anit 16b]

Herein, Rashi cites one of the many rabbinic explanations that explicate our verse. In particular, it clarifies the reason as to why we declared, “Blessed be the Name of His glorious Kingdom [forever and ever]!” within the Holy Temple’s precincts, rather than “Amen,” as is pronounced outside of the Holy Temple’s environs upon hearing a benediction. The Talmud Yerushalmi, in Berachot 7:1, however, takes a different approach in its analysis and application of our verse:

We have examples in the Torah wherein a bracha is recited before a particular act whereas a blessing is not found after the completion of the act. What is an example of a blessing found in the Torah that precedes a particular act [i.e. in the instance of being called to the Torah – aliyah, and Torah study in general]? “Ki shame Hashem ekra havu godel l’Elokeinu.” In the instance of Birkat Hamazon (Blessings After Eating Bread), we find that there is a biblically mandated blessing at the completion of the meal. What is missing, however, is a biblically ordained blessing prior to beginning the meal. What is recited at the completion of the meal? “And you will eat and be sated, and you shall bless the L-rd, your G-d, for the good land He has given you.” (Sefer Devarim 8:10) If this is the case [i.e. that in one instance there is a blessing prior to an act and in the other case a blessing after the act], how do we know that what applies in one case should be applied to both cases? Rabbi Shemuel bar Nachmani in the name of Rabbi Yonatan learned it from the word “shame” (“name”) that appears in both of these verses [gezarah shaveh, in one case as “shame,” and in the other instance as yud kay vav kay]. (See Talmud Bavli, Berachot 21a for support of my suggested interpretation of this passage.)

Thus, according to the Talmud Yerushalmi, “Ki shame Hashem ekra havu godel l’Elokeinu” teaches us the requirement to recite a blessing before the public reading of the Torah, as well as prior to individual Torah study [i.e. Birchot HaTorah]. The question, of course, is “why?” Stated somewhat differently, “Why must Torah study and its public recitation be preceded by a bracha?” I believe we can find an answer to our query by briefly examining a passage found in Talmud Bavli, Nedarim 81a, as seen through the interpretive lens of Rabbeinu Nissim of Gerona (known as “the Ran,” 1320–1376):

For Rab Judah said in Rab's name: What is meant by, “Who is the wise man, that he may understand this? [Sefer Yirmiyahu 9:11, i.e. why was the Land of Israel destroyed in 586 B.C.E. etc.]” Now, this question was put to the Sages, Prophets, and Ministering Angels, but they could not answer it, until the Almighty Himself did so, as it is written, “And the L-rd said, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein”(Ibid., 12): But is not “have not obeyed my voice” identical with, “neither walked therein?” — Rab Judah said in Rab's name: “[It means] that they did not first recite a benediction over the Torah.” (Translation, Soncino Talmud, with my emendations)

The Ran, basing himself upon Rabbeinu Yonah (died 1263), notes that beyond a doubt, the scholars of the time were engaged in dynamic and on-going Torah study. In addition, as far as the “Sages, Prophets, and Ministering Angels” were collectively concerned, this alone should have been sufficient protection for the Land of Israel and it, therefore, never should have been destroyed. Yet, Hashem knew the absolute truth and the “story behind the story.” Yes, the Sages of the Sixth Century B.C.E. engaged in vigorous Torah interpretation and analysis. Unfortunately, however, they did not recite a bracha prior to this act. What exactly was the substance of this act of omission? Rabbeinu Nissim suggested the following insight:

The Torah was not important in their eyes to the extent where they believed it was deserving of having a blessing recited prior to its study. This was the case since they did not study it for its own sake (lishmah) [but rather simply out of sheer self-serving intellectual pleasure.] Therefore, they acted in a dismissive manner regarding the recitation of the benediction. This is what the verse means when it states: “neither walked therein.” This means that the Sages of the time lacked the proper intention in their Torah scholarship and failed to study it for its own sake, [i.e. as a service to Hashem].  (Translation and brackets my own)

In many ways the Ran’s interpretation is a spiritual tour de force. He teaches us that even if a mitzvah appears to have been perfectly performed, without the proper intention of serving Hashem it is nothing at all. Even worse, it can lead, G-d forbid, to the most dire consequences and frightening results. Therefore, whether we are learning Torah or performing some other mitzvah, we must always remember that we are duty-bound to serve Hashem “with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your means.” (Sefer Devarim 6:5) V’chane yihi ratzon.

Shabbat Shalom

Past drashot may be found at my blog-website: http://reparashathashavuah.org

The email list, b’chasdei Hashem, has expanded to hundreds of people. I am always happy to add more members to the list. If you have family or friends you would like to have added, please do not hesitate to contact me via email [email protected].

My audio shiurim on Tefilah and Haskafah may be found at: http://tinyurl.com/7sp5vt3

*** I have posted 164 of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s English language audio shiurim (MP3 format) spanning the years 1958-1984. They are available here:

http://tinyurl.com/82pgvfn.

**Follow new postings on my Twitter accounts: @theRavZatzal and @Torahtech613.

*** Interested in 21st Century Jewish Education? See my new blog: http://21stcenturyjewisheducation.org

Share

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

Details

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Author

    Talmid of Rabbi Soloveitchik zatzal

    Categories

    All
    Parashat Hashavuah

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog: Rabbi David Etengoff: Parashat HaShavuah
  • Sefer Bereishit 5784&5785
  • Sefer Shemot 5784&5785
  • Sefer Vayikra 5784&5785
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5784 &5785
  • Sefer Devarim 5784&5785
  • Sefer Bereishit 5782&5783
  • Sefer Shemot 5782&5783
  • Sefer Vayikra 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5782&5783
  • Sefer Devarim 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bereishit 5780& 5781
  • Sefer Shemot 5780&5781
  • Sefer Vayikra 5780&5781
  • Sefer Bamidbar 578&5781
  • Sefer Devarim 578&5781
  • Sefer Bereishit 5778&5779
  • Sefer Shemot 5778&5779
  • Sefer Vayikra 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5778&5779
  • Sefer Devarim 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bereishit 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bereishit 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bereishit 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bereishit 5771&5770
  • Sefer Shemot 5776&5777
  • Sefer Shemot 5774&5775
  • Sefer Shemot 5772&5773
  • Sefer Shemot 5771&5770
  • Sefer Vayikra 5776&5777
  • Sefer Vayikra 5774&5775
  • Sefer Vayikra 5772&5773
  • Sefer Vayikra 5771&5770
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5771&5770
  • Sefer Devarim 5776&5777
  • Sefer Devarim 5774&5775
  • Sefer Devarim 5772&5773
  • Sefer Devarim 5771&5770