Parshas Devarim – How Can it Be?

By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

This Shabbos, we begin Sefer Devarim, the fifth book of the Chumash. Parshas Devarim is always read on the Shabbos preceding Tisha B’Av, known as Shabbos Chazon.

The name Shabbos Chazon is taken from the opening words of this week’s haftarah, “Chazon Yeshayahu – the vision of the prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah)”.

The Midrash on Shir HaShirim tells us that chazon, a vision, is the most powerful form of prophecy. Yeshayahu’s vision was painful. He saw the terrible destruction that was to come upon Eretz Yisroel. It was so real, so palpable, that it was as if he personally experienced it.

“Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire, and your lands – before you, strangers consume it…” (Yeshayahu I 1:7).

“Aino domeh shemiah l’reiyah,” there is no comparing the power of something seen to that which is merely heard.” How it painful it must have for Yeshayahu.

Yeshayahu laments the causes of the destruction, and cries out HaShem’s words. “Bonim gidaltee v’romamtee, v’heim poshu bee, I raised and exalted children, but they rebelled against me.” (Yeshayahu I 1:2) He admonishes the people for worshipping without heart, and of just going through the motions. A people who allow the mitzvos to become routine, without a genuine feeling of connection to HaShem.

Yeshayahu’s message is timeless. A message that even generations later still speaks to us.

Yeshayahu grieves, “Eichah – How can it be! Hoysah l’zonah kiryah ne’emanah, That the beautiful city has become a harlot, a faithful city that was full of justice and righteousness, is now with murderers.”

Parshas Devarim… Shabbos Chazon. We know there are no coincidences – even as to when a parsha comes out on the calendar. There is one word that connects Parshas Devarim, Shabbos Chazon and Tisha B’Av: “Eichah – How can it be?”

Yeshayahu, in his prophecy cries out “Eichah”. In this week’s parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu also painfully cries out “Eichah”.

“Eichah essah l’vadi, torchachem, u’ma’sa’achem, v’rivchem. Eichah – How can I alone carry your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels? (Devarim 1:12)  Being the leader of the nation was no easy task. Moshe asks, “Eichah – How can I do it?” Rashi explains that the skeptics among the people caused Moshe much heartache. Additionally, to Moshe each member of the nation was a beloved child. He felt their burdens and suffering, as a father does for the pain and anguish of his own children.

Ramban teaches that when Moshe davened for the Jewish nation, he felt their suffering. He carried their burdens on his shoulder, prompting him to ask “Eichah – How can I continue on”?

There is yet one more prophet who cried out “Eichah”. The Eichah that connects all three. The Eichah of Yirmiyahu, Jeremiah whose words we read on Tisha B’Av.

In Megillas Eichah, also known as Lamentations Yirmiyahu cries out “Eichah yoshvah vadad, How can it be that the city (Yerushalayim) sits alone; ha’ir rabasi am, the city that was full with people, haysah k’almanah, has become like a widow – abandoned.” (Eichah 1:1)

The passage where Moshe says Eichah is read in the same trop, mournful tune as we read Yirmiyahu’s Eichah. A soul-stirring tune that enters the neshamah and wakes up the “Eichah” within each and every one of us.

Eichah… How can it be, we ask. How can it be that it is over two thousand years and we are still a nation in exile, our Bais HaMikdash destroyed?  Eichah… How can it be that we live in a world where hate crimes and anti-Semitism is rising? That our beloved Eretz Yisroel is surrounded by blood-thirsty enemies, and under a constant barrage of terrorist attacks.

Eichah… How can it be that there is so much illness, pain and suffering? That there are so many struggling with family relationships, shalom bayis (peace in the home), and raising children.  Eichah… so many having difficulties in making ends meet, with spiraling costs that have affected us all.

Eichah… How can it be that we are living in a world where social mores have been turned upside down? Where behavior and values once considered unfathomable have become routine and in some cases the norm?

Eichah… How much more can we take?

In the haftarah, Yeshayahu advises that in order for the geulah, the final redemption to come, “Learn to do good, devote yourself to righteousness, strengthen the victim, do justice for the orphan, and take up the cause of the widow.” (Yeshayahu I 1:17)

All mitzvos we can do. All acts of kindness – bricks leading up to the building of the third and final Bais HaMikdash with the coming of Moshiach.

The second Bais HaMikdash was not destroyed because of the nation’s failings in adhering to halacha. Rather, it was brought about by sinas chinam… unwarranted hatred, ill feelings between brother and brother.

Chazal teach “Kol dor v’dor shelo nivneh Bais HaMikdash, k’ilu nechrav b’yomov, Every generation in which the Holy Temple is not rebuilt, it is as it had been destroyed in its time.”

That’s us. The generation that didn’t merit (as of yet) to rebuild the Bais HaMikdash. It means the wrongdoing and negativity amongst us continues. It means we are guilty of continuing the misdeeds of past generations.

This Tisha B’Av, it’s time for us to say that we’re making a break. We will start anew. We can rebuild the Third Bais HaMikdash thru exhibiting ahavas chinam, unconditional love. To accept people without being judgmental or expecting anything in return.

It’s up to us. We can do it. To be concerned for someone else. To think of what we can do for each other. To bring light into a world of darkness. To be an ohr lagoyim, a light unto the nations. With HaShems’s help, we will be zoche to see the fulfillment of Yeshayahu’s words, “Tzion b’mishpat tipadeh, v’shaveha b’tzedaka, Tzion shall be redeemed with justice and her returnees with righteousness.” (Yeshayahu I 1:27)

Shabbat Shalom!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas /In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l