Chasidic Insights

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS VO'ES'CHANAN 5764 BS"D

Ch. 3, v. 23: "Vo'es'chanan el Hashem bo'eis ha'hee leimore" - From these words we derive three basic requirements for prayer. First, that one must have "kavonoh," intention and cleaving to Hashem in mind, "Vo'es'chanan el Hashem." Second, that it should be done in the halachically mandated time, "bo'eis ha'hee." Third, that one should clearly enunciate his words, "leimore." (Darkei Chaim)

Ch. 4, v. 7: "Mi goy godol asher lo Elokim krovim eilov" - Who is a great nation? The nation who Hashem is close to them. We can similarly interpret the next verse. (Sh'eiris Yaakov)

Ch. 4, v. 9: "Pen tishkach es hadvorim ..v'hodatom l'vo'necho v'livnei vo'necho" - In a powerful message packaged in a slightly humourous manner: Beware lest you forget the Torah and satisfy yourself with only having your sons and grandsons fulfill it. (Leket Amorim)

Ch. 4, v. 26: "Ha'idosi vochem ha'yom es hashomayim v'es ho'oretz" - I will make you jewellery, "edi," in the heavens and the earth. (Sfas Emes)

Ch. 4, v. 41: "Oz yavdil Moshe" - Rashi and others deal with the seeming difficulty of the term "yavdil," he WILL set aside. Possibly, when Moshe killed the Egyptian who struck the ben Yisroel he was aware that he would have to run away and seek asylum. At that time, "oz," he committed himself to likewise set aside cities of refuge in the future (see Yalkut Shimoni on our verse). (Nirreh li)

Ch. 5, v. 12: "Shomor es yom haShabbos" - The Holy Admor of Sochatchov spent a summer Shabbos in a pristine country place to regain some strength. There were many others there including a so-called "enlightened rabbi." When he saw the Holy Admor attired in his shtreimel, he asked, "Rabbi, isn't it very hot for you to wear a fur hat on a hot summer day?" The Holy Admor answered, "Being near you has greatly cooled me off."

Ch. 5, v. 12: "Shomor es yom haShabbos l'kadsho" - We find "shomor" in two other places, "Shomor tish'm'run es kol mitzvos Hashem" (Dvorim 6:16), and "Shomor es chodesh ho'oviv" (Dvorim 16:1). The connection is that just as "oviv," the spring season brings renewal and freshness, so too shall you guard to fulfill all the mitzvos, and especially mitzvos like Shabbos that come repeatedly, with fervour, as if they are new and it the first time you are doing them. (Shiluv Hamso'res)

Ch. 5, v. 19: "Kole godol v'lo yosof" - This voice will not stop. It emanates from Har Sinai daily. We need but cock our ears to hear it. (Rabbi Simchoh Bunim of Parshiz'cha in Siach Sarfei Kodesh)

Ch. 5, v. 26: "Mi yi'tein v'hoyoh l'vovom zeh lo'hem" - "The wicked are controlled by their heart, while the righteous control their heart" (Breishis Rabboh 34:11). It will be fortunate if their heart will be "lo'hem," in their control, and not the reverse. (Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk) In a light manner: If their heart, their charitable feeling will be self-centred only, "lo'hem," then "mi yitein," who will give charity? (Nirreh li)

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