Parsha of the Week
This week’s Parsha is Parshas Devorim; which is the first Parsha featured in the 5th Book of The Chumash (The 5 Books of Moses). It is also called Shabbos Chazon.
The Five books of the Chumash (Five book of Moses) are:
1. Beraishis
2. Shmos
3. Vayikra
4. Bamidbar
5. Devorim
In this week’s parsha Moshe gives his final speech to the Jewish people before his death. He gave this speech to about 600,000 Jewish people. When Moshe was a little boy, he burned his tongue, causing him to stutter. Since Moshe’s voice was not strong enough for everyone to hear him, a miracle happened. Whatever Moshe wanted to say, Hashem’s presence said it, and spoke for Moshe. This way the Jewish people were able to hear Moshe’s speech.
In Moshe’s speech he rebuked the Jewish people by giving them a Mussar (instruction, discipline, or conduct). Most people do not like hear a Mussar. If you give a Mussar to a foolish person he will ignore the Mussar and dislike you. If you give a Mussar to a wise and smart person he will thank you and correct himself.
There is a story when a rabbi of a Shul was giving a Mussar to his congregation on a Shabbos morning. The rabbi was saying how people should keep Shabbos and after he finished the Board Members said to him that it is not nice to talk about keeping Shabbos when some people don’t keep Shabbos. The following week the rabbi gave a Mussar on keeping kosher and again the Board Members came to him and said that it is not appropriate to talk about keeping kosher when some people don’t keep kosher. The following week the Rabbi spoke about the importance to be married to a Jewish person. The Board members came up to him again and said you cannot talk about this subject, not everyone is married to a Jewish Person. So the rabbi said, what do you what me to talk about? Then the Board Members said, we want you to talk about Judaism. Rabbi said, talking about keeping Shabbos, keeping Kosher, and marrying a Jewish person is all Judaism. A Rabbi who speaks to his congregation and they never get mad at him is not a good Rabbi because he is afraid to do his job by giving Mussar.
The sages said that during Moshe’s generation people were wise. Since Moshe said his Mussar, the Jewish people realized their sins, but they didn’t mind to be rebuked because they knew that Moshe loved them. We can compare this to a child being rebuked by his teacher or parents.
Shabbat Shalom! Have a Good Shabbos!
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