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Torah Portion: PARSHAS DEVARIM

		PARSHAS DEVARIM By: Rabbi Osher Jungreis

HOW TO ADMONISH WITHOUT OFFENDING SHABBOS CHAZON The Shabbos preceding Tisha B’Av is called Shabbos Chazon. It draws its name from the first word of the Haftorah which contains Isaiah’s rebuke to the Jewish People, “I raised and nurtured children and they betrayed Me. An ox knows its keeper, a donkey the hand that feeds it, but Israel does not know - My people do not perceive.” In these nine days of mourning for our people, we must all open our hearts to the call of G-d. HaShem is yearning for us. Like a parent who has been abandoned by his children, He calls out "return to Me in Prayer, Torah and Chesed. *PARSHAS DEVARIM - HOW TO ADMONISH WITHOUT OFFENDING* This week, we commence the fifth Book of the Torah - Devarim (Deuteronomy) This fifth Book is also called Mishna Torah - A Review of the Torah. Prior to his death, Moshe Rabbenu reviews the entire Torah and admonishes the nation. We learn from Moshe, the master teacher, how to rebuke without alienating and offending. Instead of sledgehammer tactics, Moshe criticizes through allusion. He mentions the names of all the places where the people had sinned and invites them to recall those shameful episodes by examining their lives so that those wrong doings may be expunged from their hearts. For example, when he speaks about a place called “Dei Zahav”, which literally translated means “much gold”, it is the golden calf that he recalls, but he adds the word “dei” (much) warning the people regarding the perils of wealth which, if unchecked, can result in a golden calf. But because Moshe is our loving shepherd, contained in that very word “dei” is also a defense for our nation, as though he was saying, “Almighty G-d, it was not altogether the fault of the people. You lavished much gold upon them and they couldn’t handle it, so forgive them.” Even in admonishment, Moshe, our beloved teacher, forever remains our defense attorney. There is a profound lesson for us here. We live in a culture that is not accepting of criticism. “People just don’t want to hear it.” The motto is “mind your own business, don’t interfere”, so parents have refrained from voicing their concerns. There is no one to tell it as it is, and the damage is evident everywhere. Moshe teaches us that if you truly love someone, then admonishment is “a must”, but the words have to be couched in love. This teaching may be seen throughout our rabbinic literature which instructs those who would criticize to “push away with the left hand and simultaneously draw near with the right.” But perhaps what is most telling is that even as Moshe recounts the names of all the places where the Jewish people angered G-d during their forty years of sojourning, he demonstrated to them the extent of G-d`s great love, for despite their rebelliousness, the Almighty always forgave them and the people flourished.“HaShem your G-d has multiplied you and behold, you are like the stars of heaven in abundance (Deut. 1:10) Herein lies another lesson - we should never feel that, because of our sins, we have so distanced ourselves from G-d that we can no longer come back to Him. G-d is our loving compassionate Father, and is waiting for all of us to return to Him. Nevertheless, we dare not abuse this love. Never should we rationalize that it’s okay to sin, because G-d will forgive. Nor should we feel that we are doomed because of past mistakes. If our repentance is sincere, G-d will always embrace us and we will merit seeing our Temple in Jerusalem rebuilt in our own days. “He who mourns for Jerusalem will be there to rejoice in her” JOIN WITH YOUR PEOPLE - PARTICIPATE in TISHA B’AV SERVICES at HINENI Wed., Aug. 6, 9:00 P.M. -Maariv and Eicho (Lamentations) (last meal before fast must end at 8:05 PM Thursday, Aug. 7, 6:45 PM - “The Essence of Faith” -An award winning film from Israel 7:30, PM - Talmudic & Midrashic Insights on Tisha B’Av - Rabbi Yisroel Jungreis 8:15 PM, “Light in the Midst of Darkness” - Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis Followed by Break-Fast (fast ends at 8:54 PM) - All are invited. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Osher Parshas Devarim 3 AV 5763 Candle Lighting Time, Fri. August 1, 7:53PM Shabbos ends Sat. Aug. 2, 9:01 PM Hineni, 232 West End Avenue, NYC 212-496-1660 hineni@hineni.org