Devarim Day 1
Moshe insisted his critique of their behavior be said to ALL the Jews, lest anyone non-present feel it irrelevant for them. But the critique itself was couched in allegory, indirectly referenced by locations, out of respect for the people. #RashiToday #Devarim 1 >
> You’d think if he was worried about people misinterpreting his critique he’d be as clear & direct as possible. But perhaps we learn here that Moshe addresses people more than issues, the people-connection must be evident & clear, the issues not as much. #RashiToday #Devarim 1.
Devarim Day 2
Interesting #RashiToday (#Devarim Day 2) interprets “iron crucible” (which the verses uses as a metaphor for the heat & pressure of Egypt) as a place for refining gold. How does Rashi know its for refining gold? Most crucibles refine iron, & verse calls it an iron crucible? >
> #RashiToday does source gold refinement from a Midrash (Tehillim etc) but other Midrashim & commentaries go the iron route instead. Why does Rashi go for the gold? Perhaps it is “taken you as people, for a heritage” at the end of the verse. Iron is utility, gold is heritage.
> Background to question above is that basic google searches seem to imply that in ancient times crucibles were made of clay, so “iron crucible” would seem to refer to the material being melted & refined, not the type of crucible itself. And most uses seem to be for iron.
“(Judges should) hear small & great alike” #RashiToday #Devarim 2 interprets this 2 ways: (1) financial amount in the case shouldn’t sway the law, the law of a penny is same as law of $100 bill. (2) Socioeconomic status (large or small) of the litigants must not matter either.
Judges & financial cases aside, there may be additional relevance in this #RashiToday for all of us, in how we view/value those we engage with, what ought to be our primary considerations, & what aspects should we pay less attention to & put less or little focus on? #Devarim 2
“I charged/commanded your Judges” instead of reading this charge as part of the verse’s continuation, #RashiToday hears in it a separate message: Treat each case as its own case. Even if the judge has heard this issue many times earlier, be deliberate in judgement. (#Devarim 2) >
> What makes #RashiToday see it this way? Various answers in the commentaries: One sees a “stop sign” in the trope melody, one notes the switch to the word judge in this verse after speaking of leaders, another learns it from the fact an emphatic charge is necessary.. >
> Nice Bartenura on this #RashiToday: Isn’t “Tzav” charge or energizing command, the opposite of being deliberate or patient? Ah, says the Bartenura: the deliberate patient approach will cause one to be animated & engaged in a case he already heard many times before! #Devarim 2
Devarim Day 3
“And you murmured in your tents” that Jews thought G-d hates us to bring us to such a situation (in the story of the Spies). #RashiToday (#Devarim 3) quotes a psychological proverb about projection, that it was the hate in their hearts that led them to think G-d hated them. >
this is an addition/slightly different to what’s ascribed to the Jews response that’s described in the verse. #Rebbe says that #RashiToday sees the psychological projection compelling due to verse’s “murmuring in your tents” which implies a private, personal, internal >
murmuring different than (or underlying) the public outcry & complaint. Indeed, perhaps it is this inner distrust, the “in the tents”) projection of doubt & unlove onto G-d, that fueled/powered the public complaint, fear of being unloved that led to G-d isn’t willing/able. >
In our dealings with others: kids, students, community, friends – important not only to hear & address the public outcry, the official complaints, but also the quieter, personal, internal “murmuring in the tents” that may underlie & fuel the external louder issue. #RashiToday
Devarim Day 4
“(Emorites chased you) as bees do” says the verse. What do bees do? Simplest explanation is that bees swarm/attack/bite when provoked. But that’s not the explanation #RashiToday (#Devarim 4) chooses to go with, instead it’s how honeybees die after they sting, same with Emorites >
who themselves died attacking the Jews who tried to enter Israel after G-d’s decree not to in the sin of the Spies. #RashiToday is translating “as bees do” more as “as happens with bees”. And ironic that in a verse of G-d’s & Moses’ upset with the Jewish people, there is >
(according to #RashiToday’s interpretation quoted from Midrash) still an element of G-d’s protection & support, even in a fatal attack like this. – This “bee-like” suicide mission also recalls #AlterRebbe’s insight into the Shimi vs. David story in Tanya Igeres HaKodesh 25.
Devarim Day 5
There are all kinds of reasons why it is often better to minimize the path & approach of victimhood (when possible), but #RashiToday (Devarim 5) sees it as being ungrateful & inappreciative of our many blessings. Which is why G-d told the Jewish people to >
> insist on paying for food & water on their passage into Israel, from a position of strength not weakness, the miraculous Exodus to be seen as a success story not as a failure. Considering ourselves as failures can be a sign of ungratefulness to those who helped us get here. >
Devarim Day 6
A short simple #RashiToday (#Devarim Day 6) extends the literal “from his hand” to figuratively more broadly mean “from under his control/possessions”. This has echoes in a legalistic Talmud discussion & in #AlterRebbe‘s expression in Tanya 25 about being within our reach.
Devarim Day 7
The last #RashiToday of #Devarim Day 7 explains why tribes of Gad & Ruvain were to go ahead of & in front (as special forces) of the rest of the tribes in the war to conquer Israel, whereas in early #Matot the pledge was to fight alongside with their fellow tribes. >
> #RashiToday (Devarim 7) says this is due to a special strength & military skill ascribed to the tribe of Gad (later in Vzot HaBracha). #Rebbe seeks to differentiate btwn this & usual ascription of strength to Judah, & more on reason for troop switch btwn #Matot & #Devarim. >
> back in #Matot Moshe still thought he’d be able to lead the entry into Land of Israel but by #Devarim he knew it would be Joshua. #Rebbe uses this to explain Gad & Ruvain ahead of vs. alongside other tribes. And turns it into 2 formats of self-sacrifice, Tanya 18 vs 25.
> Footnotes in this Rebbe’s talk (LKS Vol 9 Devarim 1) have extra bold & emboldening text tying (based on a Rosh & a R’ Bachaye) the unique & forward strength of tribe of Gad re: arm & head to #Rebbe‘s Tefillin Campaign started in 1967 Six Day War. (#RashiToday #Devarim Day 7)