Weekly Parsha

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Deuteronomy 7:12 -11:25

Moshe continues his discourse guaranteeing the Jewish people prosperity and good health if they follow the mitzvot, the commandments. He reminds us to look at our history and to know that we can and should trust in G-d's. However, we should be careful so that we are not distracted by our material success, lest we forget and ignore G-d's.

Moshe warns us against idolatry (the definition of idolatry is the belief that anything other than God has power) and against self-righteousness ("Do not say because of my virtue that G-d's brought me to occupy this land ... but because of the wickedness of these nations that G-d's is driving them out before you"). He then details our rebellions against G-d during the 40 years in the desert and the giving of the Second Tablets (Moshe broke the first Tablets containing the Ten Commandments during the sin of the Golden Calf).

This week's portion dispels a common misconception. People think that "Man does not live by bread alone" means that a person needs additional foods beyond bread to survive. The quotation in its entirety is, "Man does not live by bread alone ... but by all that comes out of G-d's mouth" (Deut.8:3).

The Torah then answers a question which every human being has asked of himself: What does G-d want of you? "Only that you remain in awe of G-d your Lord, so that you will follow all His paths and love Him, serving G-d your Lord with all your heart and with all your soul. You must keep G-d's commandments and decrees ... so that all good will be yours" (Deut.10:12).

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Dvar Torah
from Twerski on Chumash by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D.

The Torah states:

"Now, O Israel, what does your God ask of you? Only to fear God" (Deut.10:12).

What is "fear of G-d"?

The term "fear of G-d" is often thought of as fear of being punished for disobeying Him. That is a rather immature concept. Yiras Shamayim (the Hebrew term for "fear of God", literally: fear of Heaven) means fear of losing close contact with G-d. When a person commits a sin, he sets up a barrier between himself and G-d. The relationship to God should be as vital to a person as if he were being saved by drowning only because he is holding onto a rope. The rope is his only link to safety, and he fears losing hold of it.

If a person understood that his spiritual life depends on his contact with G-d and that the mitzvot (commandments) are the only means for that contact, his fear of violating the mitzvot would be like the fear of losing hold of the rope. That is Yiras Shamayim.

QUOTE:

Anger is one letter away from ... danger!