|
|
||
HOME
|
|
Drash for Shabbat Devarim/Chazon By Michael & Judy Lefton - August 12, 2005 In this week's Parshah, called Devarim or Words, Moses knows his days are numbered and his people will soon enter the Promised Land without him. In a final attempt to prepare the Israelites for their future, Moses begins a long farewell speech he hopes will inspire them to follow God's laws in their new land. First, Moses reminds the Jews that God's love for them is so strong that he freed them from slavery, gave them the 10 Commandments, and promised them safe entry into Israel. But the Jews had doubts, they kvetched, they lacked faith that God would protect them, Moses says. Despite God's love for the Jews, and their love for Him, they violated His commandments. As a result, the Jewish people were condemned to wander in the desert for 40 years, Moses reminds them. Only now that the older generation has died will their children - born in freedom and more rugged in body and spirit - be allowed into Israel. What was God's motive for creating this calamity, and Moses' reason for retelling it? Perhaps to teach the Israelites that no matter how much they loved God and how much He loved them, there would be consequences to pay if they didn't follow His laws. This Torah portion's focus on love and laws made us wonder if love is sufficient to live a moral and ethical life today. Is it true, as the Beatles sang, that "All You Need Is Love"? Not for our children: We must love our children unconditionally, yet isn't it also our responsibility to teach them a standard of right and wrong so they have a framework upon which to make moral and virtuous decisions? Not for our marriages: love will fade and marriages won't last without fidelity to our holy marital vows. Not for our security. The Islamic terrorists who kill school children, behead "infidels" and seek to spread their destructive ideology of hate and murder around the globe will not be deterred by our love, tolerance and understanding. So let's believe in love, celebrate love, and live love, with the understanding that love is not all we need. Like the ancient Israelites, we also need faith in God, observance of His commandments, and the will to defend our beliefs, our families and our freedom. Shabbat Shalom. |
