RABBI DAVID ETENGOFF: PARASHAT HASHAVUAH
  • Blog: Rabbi David Etengoff: Parashat HaShavuah
  • 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

7/24/2015

Parashat Vaetchanan 5775, 2015: "Shamor, Zachor and Torat Emet"

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
 

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 bat Yechiel, sister, Shulamit bat Menachem, Chaim Mordechai Hakohen ben Natan Yitzchak, Yehonatan Binyamin ben Mordechai Meir Halevi, Avraham Yechezkel ben Yaakov Halevy, HaRav Yosef Shemuel ben HaRav Reuven Aharon, the refuah shlaimah of Devorah bat Chana, and Yitzhak Akiva ben Malka, and the safety of our brothers and sisters in Israel and around the world.


Remember (Zachor) the Sabbath day to sanctify it. (Sefer Shemot 20:8)

Keep (Shamor) the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the L-rd your G-d commanded you. (Sefer Devarim 5:12, these and all Bible and Rashi translation, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach)

The Aseret Hadibrot (Ten Commandments) are stated twice in the Torah. The first instance is in Sefer Shemot, Parashat Yitro, and the second is in our parasha. While there are a number of relatively minor differences between these formulations, there is one textually substantive disparity that has been the focal point of countless analyses by our Sages, namely, the verses referring to Shabbat. As cited above, our Torah portion states, “Keep (Shamor) the Sabbath day to sanctify it...” whereas the verse in Sefer Shemot reads, “Remember (Zachor) the Sabbath day to sanctify it.” This raises an obvious question. If our parasha’s statement of the Aseret Hadibrot is supposed to be a recapitulation of that which initially appeared in Sefer Shemot, how is it possible to have such radically divergent Shabbat-based texts? In other words, how can both texts be accurate and authentic if they entail two very different commandments and outcomes?

One of the earliest sources to address our question is the Mechilta d’Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Sefer Shemot (20:8). According to scholarly consensus, this work is from the school of Rabbi Akiba (executed in 135 CE):

[The words,] zachor and shamor were said [simultaneously] regarding the same matter [i.e. Shabbat] – something that is impossible for the mouth to pronounce or for the ear to hear. Therefore the text states, “G-d spoke all these words…” (Sefer Shemot 20:1) and in addition, “G-d spoke one thing, I heard two…” (Sefer Tehillim 62:12, brackets my own)

This approach focuses upon the miraculous nature of Hashem’s single utterance that was comprised of two separate and distinct words, namely, “shamor” and “zachor.” It has been repeated multiple times throughout Rabbinic literature, in the Midrashim and the Talmud Yerushalmi and Bavli. Little wonder, then, that Rashi (1040-1105) utilized it twice in his glosses on our two initial verses:

Remember: Heb. זָכוֹר [The words] “remember (זָכוֹר)” and “keep (שָׁמוֹר)” (Sefer Devarim 5:12) were pronounced with one utterance… This [occurrence of G-d saying two phrases simultaneously in one utterance] is the meaning of what is said: “G-d spoke one thing, I heard two” (Sefer Tehillim 62:12)

Keep [the Sabbath day]: But in the first set [of Ten Commandments] (in Sefer Shemot 20) it says: “Remember [the Sabbath day]!” The explanation is: Both of them (“Remember” and “Keep”) were spoken simultaneously as one word and were heard simultaneously.

500 years later, the Mechilta d’Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s interpretation became permanently imprinted in the Jewish psyche through “Lecha Dodi,” the universally recited liturgical poem of the renowned 16th century Kabbalist, Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz of Safed, Israel: “Keep” and “Remember” – in a single utterance the One and Only G-d made us hear.” (Translation, Artscroll Hebrew/English Siddur, page 317, with my emendations)

Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar (1696-1743), known as the “Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh (the holy one)” after the name of his famous work of Torah exegesis, offers a strikingly unique, and even radical, interpretation as to why the Torah utilized the terms “zachor” and “shamor.” In fact, his approach is so iconoclastic that it would probably be labeled heretical by the standards of our time:

It is possible that in reality Hashem only stated “zachor” [and never actually said “shamor” in Parashat Vaetchanan]. [If this is the case, however,] one term [namely, “shamor,”] may be derived from its cognate term [i.e. “zachor’] for those who have deep and abiding understanding [of the Torah]. As a result of Hashem having stated “zachor,” we should have the intention that it should be understood (literally, “remembered”) in such a manner as to enable ourselves to apply our total cognitive abilities (literally, “knowledge”) regarding the term in order to avoid any capricious understanding. The resultant outcome you will then be able to achieve (literally “learn) is that Hashem also commanded that which is found afterwards [i.e. “shamor” within the word “zachor” that was actually stated]. This, then, was Moshe’s explanation regarding when he said “shamor,” namely, that it is included in the word “zachor.” Note: All that I have written is written purely on the theoretical level (b’derech efshar). (Sefer Ohr HaChaim on Sefer Devarim 5:12, translation, underlining, bolding, brackets and parentheses my own)

Allow me to explicate the two main points of the Ohr HaChaim’s avowedly theoretical interpretation:

1.     It is possible that Hashem never actually said, “shamor.” Instead, it is to be understood as an extension of “zachor,” even though it remains a mitzvah in its own right.

2.     Moshe said the word “shamor,” as found in our parasha, to teach us that it is incorporated in “zachor.”

In my estimation, the Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh did not just teach a lesson regarding hypothetical parshanut (Torah analysis); instead, he bravely pushed the accepted boundaries of conventional wisdom in his relentless search for Torat emet (the truth of the Torah). In doing so, he embodied the oft-quoted and well-known words of Chazal (our Sages of blessed memory), “Shivim panim l’Torah” (there are 70 different ways to analyze the Torah).

With Hashem’s help, may we also pursue Torat emet, and ever grow in our love and understanding of His holy Torah. Moreover, may each of us be zocheh (merit) to fulfill the sacred words of the second bracha (blessing) of the daily Birchot HaTorah (Torah blessings):

Please, Hashem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouth and in the mouth of Your people, the family of Israel. May we and our offspring and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel – all of us – know Your Name and study Your Torah for its own sake.  (Translation, Artscroll Hebrew/English Siddur, page 17)

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 rdbe718@gmail.com.

*** My audio shiurim for Women on “Tefilah: Haskafah and Analysis,” may be found at: http://tinyurl.com/8hsdpyd

*** 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.


Share

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

Details

    Archives

    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 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