Quick Thoughts on the Parsha

In the second aliyah of Parshat Devarim, Moshe recalls not being able to bear the burden of leading B’nai Yisrael alone. אֵיכָ֥ה אֶשָּׂ֖א לְבַדִּ֑י טָרְחֲכֶ֥ם וּמַשַּֽׂאֲכֶ֖ם וְרִֽיבְכֶֽם, “How can I bear your trouble, your burden, and your strife alone?” (Devarim 1:12). In explaining what made us such a burden to Moshe, Rashi teaches that every morning, we would judge Moshe based on when he left his tent. If he left early, we assumed he was having trouble at home. And if he left late, we assumed he was plotting against us. Thus, what made us a burden was how readily we looked for the worst in others. We know that this same propensity to see the worst in each other and to hate without cause led to the destruction of Bayit Sheini. On Rosh Chodesh Av, as we begin the nine days, it is incumbent upon us to take action in repairing the destruction we have caused through baseless hatred and harsh judgment. We must no longer be a burden or an obstacle in God’s plan, so that no one is able to say אֵיכָ֥ה about our sins. Today, practice dan lekaf zechut, judging others favorably. Look for the divinity, holiness, and goodness in others and in yourself.

--Rabbanit Alissa

In the third aliyah of Parshat Devarim, Moshe recounts the incident of the meralgim, the spies. In describing the impetus to scout out the land, Moshe says that B’nai Yisrael wanted to know אֶת־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַֽעֲלֶה־בָּ֔הּ, “which route we should go up” to Israel (Devarim 1:22). Rashi comments here that with these words B’nai Yisrael was implicitly saying אין דרך שאין בה עקמימות, “there is no road without a crooked portion”. Rashi here can be read one of two ways. First, as describing B’nai Yisrael’s complaint. We imagine them saying, ‘Every way into Israel is crooked! It is too hard!’ But this interpretation does not make sense with Moshe’s response one verse later: וַיִּיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינַ֖י הַדָּבָ֑ר, “It was good in my eyes” (Devarim 1:23). Moshe would not have supported a complaining critique of the land. And so, alternatively we can read Rashi’s comment as a statement of fact: There is no road without a crooked portion. Every way to Israel will have twists and turns, and our job is to scout out the best of them. This interpretation from Rashi has profound implications for our daily lives. We often plot out our course only to later find ourselves on a crooked road, needing to bend with the turns and bumps along the way. With this understanding, we see B’nai Yisrael accept that in reality no path is entirely straight. It is then on us to scout out the path that is best and to be prepared and open to the twists and turns ahead of us. Today, notice the path you are on. What are your twists and turns? When you see that the road is crooked, do you complain or do you scout out your best step forward?

--Rabbanit Alissa