Reminders Forever
Torah Study with R. Marder 8/25
Deuteronomy 31: 16 -
So Moses is directed to write this ‘poem’ that will be a reminder forever.
Why?
Because the people will become very comfortable in the ‘land of milk and honey’ and they will go astray. The poem is a way to remind them not to abandon their beliefs.
We discussed the struggle we have when times are good and we become ‘obese’. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch speaks of the Israelits' "obesity" as a metaphor for affluence and a preoccupation with material gratification. Larry asked, ‘ if God didn’t want us to become ‘obese’ why did we get to go to the ‘land of milk and honey’? Some think it is that we needed to learn control of our ‘appetite’. Others noted that it is most difficult to deal with the ‘top’ of the hierarchy of needs. But the essence is that the ‘people’ must determine their own fate but they need constant reminders to continually renew their faith and loyalty to God’s laws.
There is a reminder here that Deuteronomy is targeted to the collective community and not to the individual.
The other point discussed relates to the directive for Moses to write this poem. There is a mitzvah that each of us should ‘write our own Torah’. This has been interpreted in many different ways as well.
And this is another way to reinforce our connection and to assure there will always be a relationship between us and Torah.
Deuteronomy 31: 16 -
So Moses is directed to write this ‘poem’ that will be a reminder forever.
Why?
Because the people will become very comfortable in the ‘land of milk and honey’ and they will go astray. The poem is a way to remind them not to abandon their beliefs.
We discussed the struggle we have when times are good and we become ‘obese’. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch speaks of the Israelits' "obesity" as a metaphor for affluence and a preoccupation with material gratification. Larry asked, ‘ if God didn’t want us to become ‘obese’ why did we get to go to the ‘land of milk and honey’? Some think it is that we needed to learn control of our ‘appetite’. Others noted that it is most difficult to deal with the ‘top’ of the hierarchy of needs. But the essence is that the ‘people’ must determine their own fate but they need constant reminders to continually renew their faith and loyalty to God’s laws.
There is a reminder here that Deuteronomy is targeted to the collective community and not to the individual.
The other point discussed relates to the directive for Moses to write this poem. There is a mitzvah that each of us should ‘write our own Torah’. This has been interpreted in many different ways as well.
And this is another way to reinforce our connection and to assure there will always be a relationship between us and Torah.
posted by Chavarah @ 8:51 PM
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