Thursday, August 1, 2013
Parshas Re'eh: Remembering: The Contrast of the Exodus from Egypt and Amalek
6:32 AM | 
Posted by
Rabbi Chaim Coffman |
"You shall not eat leavened bread with it for seven days you shall eat matzos because of it it, bread of affliction, for you departed from the land of Egypt in hast so that you will remember the day of your departure from the land of Egypt all the days of your life" (Deuteronomy 16:3)
Rav Moshe Feinstein in Derash Moshe asks why by remembering the Exodus from Egypt we are so strict to make sure we say it twice every day but we are lenient in the fact that we do not need to read it from a sefer Torah while when we have the mitzvah of remembering what Amalek did to us, we only read it once a year but it is required to be read in a sefer Torah!
Rav Moshe answers that by remembering the Exodus from Egypt it is enough saying it to remember the miracles that happened to our forefathers and to imbue the emunah (faith) that we have of G-d's Providence in the world, therefore there is no need to read it in a sefer Torah. Remembering what Amalek did to us is a constant reminder that without Torah, we should worry that any person can be G-d forbid evil like the people of Amalek!
This, therefore requires a sefer Torah because of what a person may become. This is so important we read it in a sefer Torah, just once a year. The reason we don't say it every day is that a person may become lazy and not internalize the message so once a year is ok.
This is an unbelievable contrast. When we want to give ourselves strength in belief in G-d and show that G-d runs the world, we are required twice a day to remember and to actually say it. This is something that will not be weak in our hands and will strengthen our belief in G-d's Providence in the world. On the other hand, the fear of not being like Amalek, the message can be lost if one says it every day. This is why it must be said once a year and in a sefer Torah; that message won't get lost.
This is somewhat difficult because we run into the problem that a person may get too used to saying something that they may do it be rote. This is something that one must guard against on a daily basis. As we say everyday before the Shema, we have to look at the mitzvos as if they are have been given anew today. A new chance at our service to G-d, to be close to Him and enjoy what He has given us.
As we approach the month of Elul, this is a good reminder as we get closer to the day of judgment. We want to be better than last year, we want to change and become the people that we can be. We must internalize the message and make it fresh and timely to better utilize what G-d has given us to reach our true potential.
Shabbat Shalom
Rav Moshe Feinstein in Derash Moshe asks why by remembering the Exodus from Egypt we are so strict to make sure we say it twice every day but we are lenient in the fact that we do not need to read it from a sefer Torah while when we have the mitzvah of remembering what Amalek did to us, we only read it once a year but it is required to be read in a sefer Torah!
Rav Moshe answers that by remembering the Exodus from Egypt it is enough saying it to remember the miracles that happened to our forefathers and to imbue the emunah (faith) that we have of G-d's Providence in the world, therefore there is no need to read it in a sefer Torah. Remembering what Amalek did to us is a constant reminder that without Torah, we should worry that any person can be G-d forbid evil like the people of Amalek!
This, therefore requires a sefer Torah because of what a person may become. This is so important we read it in a sefer Torah, just once a year. The reason we don't say it every day is that a person may become lazy and not internalize the message so once a year is ok.
This is an unbelievable contrast. When we want to give ourselves strength in belief in G-d and show that G-d runs the world, we are required twice a day to remember and to actually say it. This is something that will not be weak in our hands and will strengthen our belief in G-d's Providence in the world. On the other hand, the fear of not being like Amalek, the message can be lost if one says it every day. This is why it must be said once a year and in a sefer Torah; that message won't get lost.
This is somewhat difficult because we run into the problem that a person may get too used to saying something that they may do it be rote. This is something that one must guard against on a daily basis. As we say everyday before the Shema, we have to look at the mitzvos as if they are have been given anew today. A new chance at our service to G-d, to be close to Him and enjoy what He has given us.
As we approach the month of Elul, this is a good reminder as we get closer to the day of judgment. We want to be better than last year, we want to change and become the people that we can be. We must internalize the message and make it fresh and timely to better utilize what G-d has given us to reach our true potential.
Shabbat Shalom
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