This week’s parshah is Devarim, the first parshah in the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy).
It begins with Moshe Rabbeinu giving rebuke to the Jews for all the times they rebelled against HaShem.
Following the rebuke, the parshah speaks of appointing judges and adjudicating justice. It speaks to the judges and advises and warns them to judge accordingly. That is, “not to fear anyone, adjudicate honestly according to the circumstances, not to tilt the law, nor show preferences, nor be inclined to judge according to one’s leanings. The judgment should be straightforward and according to the truth.” Compare these guidelines with what passes for courts in today’s world where whoever’s lawyer presents the strongest argument can win their case. The Torah disdains that approach and teaches us to seek only the truth. (Tell this to the ICC or the ICJ or any other court! Where is truth? Do they even know what truth is?)
The major theme of the parshah is how the Jews were to enter the Land, how they had to face many trials and tribulations, and the many enemies they encountered along the way to their Land. But they came to the border and were about to enter. This was, and is, God’s promise to us: that we will inherit the Holy Land. We can see this happening before our very eyes. Israel is such a small and narrow country, and the world is quite large, yet the nations we faced then are the same nations we face now, and none are willing to concede to God’s Promise. None! What has changed? Nothing! The nations are still denying us sovereignty over the Land.
What is the problem? Justice, honesty and truth. If we pursue the truth, then peace will reign due to recognition of the truth. So this is the week’s lesson: pursue truth and we will see justice done. Pursue the truth and we will see with our own eyes the salvation and redemption of all the Jews and the Kingdom of HaShem upon the world.
And the parshah also speaks of Yehoshua being appointed to lead the Jews and the encouragement offered to him by Moshe Rabbeinu to “strengthen himself because HaShem will be there for him to conquer the Land.”
This parshah always falls out the week of Tisha B’Av. As Reb Noson writes, it is a reminder that God’s promise of the Land to the Jews will come to be, despite the mourning and suffering of the exile.
May it happen, speedily, in our days, Amen.
