In this week’s Torah reading, Ki Tavo, Moses tells the people: “G‑d has not given you a knowing heart... until this present day.” What does he mean by “a knowing heart”? A heart that responds to the knowledge it has received; its understanding means something on a personal level.
Too often, we know something, but our knowledge is abstract, not affecting our hearts or souls. Just as in our bodies, there is a contraction at the neck that separates our heads from our trunks, so too, there is often a gap separating our minds from our hearts. This applies with regard to ordinary concepts as well as with spiritual matters.
“A knowing heart,” translates the information the mind processes into feelings that motivate a person to change his conduct. After leading the people for 40 years, Moses felt they had reached this level.
Seeing the Torah as their Own
What motivated Moses to say this? He had written a Torah scroll and given it to the tribe of Levi. The remainder of the Jewish people came to him with a complaint: “Did we not receive the Torah as well?”
For all the 40 years the Jews were in the desert, they lived with the Torah; they studied it, obeyed its commandments, and taught it to their children, but they did not see it as their own. It was G‑d’s Torah. They were involved with its study and practice, but it was like the difference between a worker and a business owner. A worker may be devoted and put in long hours, but at night he goes home and does not give the business a second thought. Not so the owner. What is he thinking of at night? His business.
After 40 years, Moses saw the Jews were beginning to look at the Torah as their own. As their teacher, this was his greatest satisfaction.
A Unified Heart
Among the prophecies of the ultimate redemption is Ezekiel’s message: “I will give them a unified heart... and I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”
There are two messages here. First, unlike the situation in the present era where we often encounter fragmented personalities, people who have difficulty integrating their different drives and motivations, in the era of Moshiach, we will be focused. The atmosphere of spiritual purpose that will prevail at that time will enable us to coordinate all the varied aspects of our personality into a unified approach.
Secondly, “the knowing heart” will not be something that we must work to achieve, but will be a natural spontaneous part of our makeup. Instead of an unresponsive heart of stone, we will have a soft heart of flesh, a heart which takes in the brain’s messages and reacts appropriately.
Moshiach Awareness
The two concepts are interrelated. Why are our hearts not responsive? Because they are torn in too many directions. Were we able to coordinate and harmonize these different centrifugal thrusts, our feelings would flow naturally and spontaneously.
Now, the purpose of elaborating on the redemption is not merely to inspire us with hopes of the future but also enables us to see how we can live our lives at present. Although in a complete sense, until Moshiach actually comes, we will be unable to put into practice the spiritual motifs that will prevail in that ultimate era, it is possible to anticipate that future era and experience a foretaste of the way we will live then in our lives at present. When our lives are dedicated to spiritual purpose, we feel a wholesome sense of fulfillment that establishes harmony between all the diverse elements of our beings.
This unity is not manufactured. Rather, it reflects the inner truth of a person’s being, for the soul is “an actual part of G‑d from above.” All of our potentials reflect this fundamental G‑dly core. And when we are focused on this G‑dly potential, we are able to appreciate the G‑dly sparks that exist in every element of existence.
Adapted from the teachings of the Rebbe, reprinted from Keeping in Touch, with perm. from Sichos in English.
It will be when you come into the land (eretz) that the Eternal, your G-d, gives you for an inheritance, and you will inherit it and dwell in it. (Deut. 26:1)
The Midrash notes that eretz is similar to ratzon (desire). When you attain the level of ratzon of G-d, you have been given a gift from above. It is an inheritance for every Jew. (the Baal Shem Tov)
Because you did not serve the Eternal your G-d with joyfulness and gladness of heart...therefore you will serve your enemy. (28:47,48)
Rabbi Simcha Bunim explained the above verse as follows: It is not enough that "you did not serve the Eternal your G-d" but you did this with joyfulness - you were happy that you weren't serving Him!
You will be mad from the sight of your eyes which you will see (Deut. 28:34)
Coveting everything one sees is indeed a terrible curse, for it is the root cause of all the other punishments that are mentioned in this Torah portion, eventually leading to "you will be only oppressed and crushed always." (the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek)
And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the L-rd, and they will be afraid of you (Deut. 28:10)
It is through the Jewish people that the nations come to fear G-d. Because "You are called by the name of the L-rd," your influence extends over all the peoples who observe you. (Butzina Din’hora)
You shall go to the place the Eternal your G-d will choose to cause His name to dwell there. (Deut. 26:2)
A Jew must know that when he goes from one place to another, he is not going on his own but is directed from Above. And the intention and purpose of this is "to cause His Name to dwell there" - that is, to make G-d known in the place to which he was Divinely led. (the Baal Shem Tov)
From our Sages & Moshiach Now! reprinted from LchaimWeekly.org - LYO / NYC
