In our Torah parashah, as well as in the other parashiyos of Elul, Hashem calls to us during these days of repentance, And you shall remove the evil from your midst! And, You shall remove the evil from Yisrael!
The commentators explain the difference in language between מִקִּרְבֶּךָ - from your midst and מִ יִּ שְׂ רָ אֵ ל -from Yisrael. When the evil stems from your midst, indicating that you are connected to that evil or that it originates from you, the Torah says from your midst. But when the evil is distant from you, and you have no direct involvement in it, the Torah says, And you shall remove the evil from Yisrael, because all of Yisrael are responsible for one another.
Thus, in the case of the wayward and rebellious son, whose evil stems from his household and upbringing—as the phrase “a son is the extension (lit.leg) of the father” suggests (Sukkah 56b), and as Rashi (Devarim 21:11) notes, “The child reflects the speech of the father and mother”—the Torah says, וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִקִּרְבֶּך - And you shall remove the evil from your midst, to uproot the evil from its initial source, your midst.
Similarly, regarding a betrothed maiden, the term מִקִּרְבֶּךָ - from your midst is used, as she resides in her father’s house, and her evil stems from her upbringing, as Rashi (Devarim 22:21) comments, אֶל פֶּתַח בֵּית אָבִיהָ - At the entrance of her father’s house—let all see the consequences of what you raised.”
In contrast, regarding an adulterous married woman, whose evil is her own doing, the Torah states (Devarim 22:22), כִּי יִמָּצֵא אִישׁ שֹׁכֵב וּבִעַרְ תָּ הָרָע מִ יִּשְׂ רָאֵל ... - If a man is found lying... and you shall remove the evil from Yisrael. This refers to an external violator whose evil does not originate specifically from your midst. Hence, the Torah attributes the responsibility to the collective and says from Yisrael.
This principle clarifies the variations in language found throughout these passages. For example, in the case of someone who kidnaps a fellow Jew, the thief is described as, כִּי יִמָּצֵא- if he is found, indicating that his evil stems from himself. However, because the kidnapped individual was under your responsibility, it reveals a deficiency in you—how could such a severe crime occur within your community? Therefore, the Torah commands, And you shall remove the evil from your midst, because when evil emerges from your midst, it is your duty to eliminate it.
As we stand during these days of favor and mercy—days of repentance, drawing close to Hashem sat a time of, - ילִדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לְנִי אֲI am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine—the hearts open, and the soul shines, yearning to return to its Creator and walk the straight and good path. Thus, our parashah proclaims: And you shall remove the evil from your midst! (individually) and You shall remove the evil from Yisrael! (collectively). – May our Father bring us back to His Torah, draw us close to His avodah, and return us in complete repentance before Him, Amen.
