Dvar Torah - Netzavim/Vayelech 5786

BE TRUE TO YOURSELF

The Torah in this week’s parsha tells us:

“Then all the nations shall say: ‘Why has the Lord done this to this land? What is the meaning of the heat of this great anger?’ Then men shall say because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord G-d of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Miżrayim:” (Devarim 29:23-24).

Moshe has just concluded a series of curses that would, chas v’Shalom, befall the Jewish people if they were to abandon Hashem and violate the covenant. Surprisingly, the Torah then describes how the other nations would react when they witnessed this terrible punishment.

Why is that relevant? Why does the Torah need to tell us what the nations would think? Wouldn't it be enough to warn the Jewish people about the devastating consequences of violating the covenant with Hashem?

The Rosh explains that the other nations seem puzzled about Hashem’s punishment of the Jews. In their minds, the Jewish people did not do anything different than what they do. The non-Jewish nations commit violence, rape, murder and of course idolatry and they are not punished in the harsh manner that the Torah describes. Therefore, they wonder, why did Hashem single out the Jewish people for punishment?

The answer to the nations is that the Jewish people are different. They entered into the covenant of Avraham with Hashem and have greater obligations than the rest of the nations. We are expected to keep the Torah and observe all its mitzvos. When we fail to do so, we are punished. The other nations do not have a covenant with Hashem, so the expectations are less, and therefore they are not punished so harshly for their bad behavior.

Apparently, on the last day of his life, Moshe wanted to communicate to the Jewish people their uniqueness from all other people and Hashem’s expectations of us. Because we received the Torah on Har Sinai and entered into a covenant with Hashem, then we are not like any other nation. Hashem has higher expectations of us, and those expectations come with greater responsibility. Like a father who loves his children, when we follow Hashem, then Hashem will bless us. However, when we disobey, then Hashem will punish us like a father who punishes his children in order to guide them to follow Him in the future.

Moshe also focuses on a second consequence. When we fail to follow the Torah and are exiled and punished, then the other nations will understand why we are being punished. The implication is that the other nations will respect us more when we follow the Torah and desire to become close to Hashem. We then become an inspiration to the world, a “light to the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6).

But the opposite is also true. When we abandon that mission, our failure becomes conspicuous. The Tochacha in last week's parsha warns:

“You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the nations to which Hashem will lead you.” (Devarim 28:37).

Throughout history, there have been Jews who forsake the Torah in order to be like the other peoples of the world. They believe that they will gain acceptance with the non-Jewish world by living among them and acting like them. The Torah here tells us that this acceptance will never happen. Eventually, not only will Hashem punish us for such behavior, but we will be mocked by the other nations for our infidelity to Hashem.

Ultimately, we have a unique destiny. We are Hashem's treasured nation, and that distinction brings with it both privilege and responsibility. We cannot escape that responsibility by pretending to be just another nation.

Moshe at the end of Devarim highlights that not only is this what Hashem demands, but even the other nations of the world expect us to be Hashem’s chosen people. As we emphasize on the upcoming Rosh Hashanah, the Yom Hadin (Day of Judgment), Hashem is the King of the world and Anu Amecha, we are Your people. We should take pride in who we are, and on this Rosh Hashanah return and become closer to Hashem.

May we merit the blessings that the Torah promises a few verses later in this week’s parsha:

“Hashem, your G-d, will bring back your returnees and will be merciful toward you; and He will return and gather you from all the peoples that Hashem, your God, has dispersed you there.” (Devarim 30:3).