Va'etchanan

Don’t just sit there, do something!

1. This week’s parshah is deeply philosophical and discusses several core concepts in Judaism such as the Shemah.  Moshe reviews the giving of the Ten Commandments and explains its significance.

2. In the middle of Moshe’s discourse he stops to set up Aray Miklot (safe zones for accidental murderers). Why does Moshe  stop his speech to go set up cities that will not be used for several years?

3. Moshe’s message is clear. The most important lesson of Jewish philosophy is to know when to stop philosophizing.  If you see a chance for a mitzvah, to do Chesed (kindness to another fellow human) you should stop learning and take action. Although the cities would not be used for a long time Moshe led by example and illustrated that preparing for Chesed was more important then philosophy.

4. The Shemah is found in our Tefilin. First we put the Tefilin on the arm first then the head. This teaches us the actions of our hands come first before we have a philosophical understanding of the entire Torah. We must pursue kindness above our own philosophical understanding and spiritual growth.

* It was told that after the Rebbe says Slechiot (festive prayers) He ascends the seven gates of heaven and learns in the yeshivah Shel Malah (The academy of heaven)

One day the local kids gathered around to disuse the Rebbe’s trip. They nominated Moshe the five year old to hide under the bed and watch the Rebbe’s ascent to heaven.

Moshe hid under the bed that night and saw that after the Rebbe finished his private prayers he went out a back door and walked around town. The Rebbe helped one simple man with his field, unloading his horse and visited a sick old woman on the outskirts of town.

Moshe returned to the group the next day with the news. They asked “Does the Rebbe go to heaven after sleichot?” He said “ no, he goes a little bit higher.”


Bonus Question: What's the difference between the shema and an Aray Miklah?


Shabbat Shalom u'mivorach,


Dan