Dvar Torah for Parshat Devarim

Based on Likutey MoHaran II, #8; Likutey Halakhot, Hilkhot Orlah 4:16

These are the words that Moshe spoke to all Israel... (Deuteronomy 1:1).

These are the words - Because these are words of reproof and [Moshe Rabbeinu] lists here the places where they angered God,... out of respect for the Jews he [merely] alludes to them (Rashi).

Even though reproof is a very important thing - and everyone is obligated to reprove his friend if he sees him acting improperly, as we are commanded, "You shall reprove your fellow Jew" (Leviticus 19:17) - even so, not everyone is able to give reproof. As Rabbi Akiva said, "I'd be really surprised if there's anyone in this generation who can give reproof" (Erkhin 16b). If Rabbi Akiva said that in his generation, how much more so is it true in ours (Likutey MoHaranII, #8).

The purpose of reproof is not to vent your anger or frustration, or to show the other person that you're smarter than s/he is. It's certainly not for the sake of being "holier-than-thou." Rebbe Nachman explains that the purpose of reproof is to bring out the beautiful fragrance within your fellow Jew.

Each of us has within the potential to be either a very great tzaddik (saint) or a very great rasha (villain). We've done good deeds and bad that have concretized and developed our good traits and bad traits, respectively. The right kind of reproof is going to stir up and re-inforce the person's good qualities, bring him to life and help him to be a better Jew. The wrong kind of reproof is going to have the opposite effects. If you open a bottle of perfume and move it about, the fragrance is quite enjoyable. On the other hand, if you empty out the diaper pail....

So, you have to be careful when speaking to people. You have to know what to say and to whom you can say it. You have to know where and when. And you have to know when to remain silent, saying nothing at all or leaving certain things unsaid. You have to know how to judge them favorably, how to fulfill the mishnah (Avot 4:1) "Don't degrade any person" no matter who s/he may be. By judging him favorably you open up for him an "escape route" that will allow him to give up his sins.

And you have to reprove yourself the same way. No matter how criminal your past (or present!) activities may be, don't judge yourself negatively. For in fact, you have no conception of how well you are doing. You don't know what incarnations you've lived through in the past, what you've gone through in this lifetime and what power(s) your evil inclination has. So, all told, you might actually be a tremendous spiritual success despite all outward appearances.

"Don't degrade any person" - even yourself. Don't be so harsh on yourself that you lose hope and interest in the mitzvot, because that's suicide. Your capacity to do the wrong things will grow. And then what will be? This is why Sefer Devarim (Deuteronomy) is a reproof of kindness. Moshe Rabbeinu taught us and teaches us, that as much as we've angered Hashem with our "golden calves" and our "spies" and all our other sins/mistakes, large and small, Hashem still loves us and has pity on us.

And what does Hashem want from us? To fear Him, namely to pray to him (see Deuteronomy 10:11; Proverbs 31:30).The main "escape route" is to cry out from the depths of the heart, be what may. Never to despair, never to think that, God forbid, crying out won't help. Being who we are we need a "Moshe Rabbeinu" to remind of us this. About this the Rebbe writes:

"One needs to search and seek very much for such a guide and to become close to him... In fact, one needs very, very much to search and seek a genuine guide like this. One needs to request very much from Hashem (God) that he be worthy of coming close to a true guide."

With such a guide/teacher, one's faith grows continuously to such an extent that one can have perfect faith. When enough of us achieve that perfect faith a "new world" will be ushered in, a world for which we have been waiting for almost 1,000 years. May it come soon, speedily, in our time. Amen!

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!