From the Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Zt”l
"See, I have set the land before you," Moses relates in this week's Torah portion, Devarim. "Come and possess the land G-d swore unto your fathers."
Rashi, the foremost Torah commentator whose explanation on the text expresses its most literal meaning, explains that the Jewish people did not have to wage war in order to take possession of the land of Israel; had they not sent the spies, they would not have needed any weapons.
"There is no one to contest the matter," Rashi comments. Since G-d Himself promised the land to the Jews, no one in the whole world could have prevented this from happening.
Historically, however, we see that instead of a miraculous entry into the land, the Jewish people did indeed engage in battle with their enemies. Their lack of faith and insistence that Moses send spies to bring back a report, spoiled their opportunity to enter the land unopposed, and made it necessary for them to follow a natural procedure instead of a miraculous one. In other words, it was their own negative attitude and conduct which forced them to wage wars in order to assert their Divine right to the land.
This contains a moral for our own times and present condition:
The Torah tells us that the Final Redemption with Moshiach will be very much like our first redemption from Egypt, but will be accompanied by even more wonders and miracles. It follows that if the entry and settlement of the land of Israel was supposed to be accomplished in a supernatural manner the first time ("There is no one to contest the matter, and you need not wage war"), how much more so will it be miraculous in our own times, with the Messianic Redemption!
Again, just as before, the entire matter depends on us. We must show absolute faith in G-d and His promise that the entire land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people. We must not be afraid to inform the nations of the world - unequivocally - that the land of Israel is our eternal legacy.
As Rashi explains on the very first verse of the Torah, "The whole earth belongs to G-d; He created it and gave it to whom He saw fit. [The land of Israel] was given to [the nations] by His will, and by His will He took it from them and gave it to us!"
When we will demonstrate this true and absolute faith in G-d, we will immediately merit that "no one will contest this, and there will be no more wars nor the need for any weapons."
Reprinted from the Devorim 5762/2002 edition of L’Chaim. Adapted from Likutei Sichot of the Rebbe, Devarim 5747.
Moshe Began Clarifying this Torah, Saying.
Rashi adds He explained it to them in seventy languages. Why now, as Benai Yisroel were about to enter Eretz Yisroel, did Moshe explain the Torah in seventy languages? There are those who think that the place to observe the Torah is in the desert, where it was given. In Eretz Yisroel there is no obligation to follow the Torah. On the other hand, there are those who say, only in Eretz Yisroel do I have to follow the Torah, outside of Eretz Yisroel - when I live among the nations of the world there is no such requirement. At this point - as they were about to enter Eretz Yisroel Moshe explained the Torah in all seventy languages to show Benai Yisroel that the Torah is not dependent on a particular time nor a particular place. Any time and any place - is the time and place for the Torah. (Ksav Sofer)
Reprinted from the Parshas Devorim 5785 email of R’ Yedidye Hirtenfeld’s whY I Matter parsha sheet for the Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn, NY.
