5-Bullet Friday: Parshas Devarim

❓Questions I am pondering:

There are four instances in this week’s parsha where Hashem and Moshe give encouragement and say, “Do not fear”. Why is this expression used for these instances specifically and how are they similar to the instances in Sefer Beraishis where other examples exist?

💡 Idea I am thinking about:

Slow. It. Down. People’s ability to focus us truly at risk. A 2005 study showed that in the workplace the average worker focused on as task for only 11 minutes before getting interrupted. To give a sense of where the world was up to in 2005 – the first YouTube video was uploaded. Imagine what that number looks like today. It is on another scale. Issues of focus today has crept internal. No longer is an external force causing interruption the #1 issue, it is the true ability to just remain focus oneself.

 

 💢Concept I am considering:

Adom karov eitzel atzmo, ve’ein adom maisim atzmo rasha. This concept came to mind as I was thinking about the middah of self-esteem (see below). This idea of Adom karov eitzel atzmo essentially disqualifies a person from incriminating oneself just as one cannot testify against a close relative in beis din. Of course, there are a lot of parameters to this din such as when it is applied and when we obligate a person based on his own words (such as money matters), as well as other halachik ramifications of when “useful” parts of a testimony are embedded within a statement of such a testimony and if the concept of “palginan dibura” could be applied. One tangential takeaway from this concept generally is the realization that we are not external to ourselves. Having rabbeim, family, friends, and mentors to help guide us is an important checks-and-balances system for us to have with external forces we trust and respect.

 

👑 Hashkafic idea I am reflecting on:

Prerequisite to ahavas chinum. It is hard to work on sinas chinum and approach ahavas chinum without first taking the moment to accept that others are intrinsically important. All of mankind shares “chaviv adom she’nivra b’tzelem” and we in particular with “chavivin Yisroel she’nikriu banim la’Makom”. Each of us is here for a reason and in that sense there is no one that is better or worse than anyone else as far as individual importance. The very first Rashi in the parsha points out the following observation which is remarkable. He writes that the passuk vaguely says, “Eileh Devarim asher dibbur Moshe…”. Clearly these “words” that Moshe spoke were words of harsh rebuke. Moshe deliberately pointed out the shortcomings of the Jewish people from their travels in the midbar as important lessons to learn from. Yet instead of a more aggressive introduction and specific examples, the opening passukim remain fairly vague. Rashi explains that this was because it is necessary to show kavod to B’nei Yisroel. Of course kavod to B’nei Yisroel does not mean letting them off the hook and avoiding giving them mussar, exactly the opposite – one who truly cares about someone and the future of their well-being will want to offer mussar in order to help them thrive. However, it has to be done deliberately. Every single aspect of Moshe’s mussar was deliberate and precise as mentioned above in the D’var Torah and this is just another example. The words chosen so carefully knowing that maintaining kavod Yisroel even during a pinnacle of warranted rebuke is absolutely necessary. Working to looking at one’s friends (and oneself) as intrinsically and objectively important is a key prerequisite to developing ahavas chinum.

 

😀 Middah on my mind:

Self Esteem. This is of course a vital middah and key to v’ahavta la’rayacha kamocha as well as perhaps a prerequisite to the prerequisite mentioned earlier relating to ahavas chinum. After all, one is closest to oneself and has natural forces that help with finding self-worth. However, getting to true self esteem is of course something that takes work, like everything. Therefore, a framework that should be utilized is the often-mentioned one of “sur meirah v’aseh tov” – work on removing the parts that are holding you back so you could then appropriately make plans to succeed. One example relating to self-esteem could be found in the 2^nd perek of Pirkei Avos (mishna 13 in some editions) which quotes Rebbe Shimon saying, among other things, “Do not deem yourself a rasha”. As some of the meforshim explain, one who considers oneself as a rasha is more likely to actually go out and become one. Mindset matters. Understanding that we are human and capable of making mistakes is super important. We must work on believing that the reason we have the ability to fall in the first place is a bracha – that we are not mere “standers” like the melachim, but rather have a ability to become so close to Hashem through our bechirah and efforts.