Parshat Va'etchanan: Timing is everything

By Rabbi Avi Billet

Issue of July 31, 2009 / 10 Av 5769

Halakhah can be defined as “Jewish law,” “a way of life” or, perhaps,

“the way we do things.” In one example of the latter definition, the

Shulchan Arukh (following the Tur) declares, “[We read] Parshat

Bamidbar before Atzeret (Shavuot), Tisha b’Av comes before

Va’etchanan, and [we read] Nitzavim before Rosh Hashana. (428:4)” Does

it really matter if we read in these orders? Probably not. But this is

the way our calendar has been set up.

In his Biur Halakha commentary, the Chofetz Chaim (R’ Israel Meir

Kagan) writes that Tisha b’Av comes before Va’etchanan so that Devarim

will precede Tisha b’Av, so that the messages of rebuke of Moshe and

of Isaiah in the haftarah of Devarim (Chazon) will be read on the

Shabbat before Tisha b’Av.

Why the comment? Is this not obvious? If Tisha b’Av is to be followed

by Va’etchanan, obviously it will be sandwiched on the other end by

Devarim.

Furthermore, why doesn’t the Shulchan Arukh follow the same format

and list Tisha B’Av as a holiday (like Atzeret and Rosh Hashana) that

follows Devarim?

Rabbi Kenneth Hain of Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence suggested

in a sermon last year that the point is not so much to point out how

the calendar works out. The message embedded in the way Tisha b’Av is

presented tells us that the Jewish people do not look forward to Tisha

b’Av, the ultimate symbol of destruction and depression. We are always

meant to look at what comes afterwards, to how we can rebuild.

To take the point a step further, we can look at the totality of

Va’etchanan to see from where we can gather tremendous inspiration.

In an ironic twist, perhaps, the Torah reading of Tisha b’Av morning

is taken from Va’etchanan. Sure, it begins on a depressing note,

talking about what will happen if the Jewish people abandon G-d. But

the downsides are pushed away by the tremendous power of the penitent,

those who seek to find G-d even as their “pintele yid” is the only

thing still burning. They are told, “When you seek Him, you will

eventually find Him.” (4:29, five verses into the Tisha b’Av reading)

And Va’etchanan has it all: A model for beseeching G-d; encouragement

for a new leader; important instructions for the devout and committed;

the downsides of turning from G-d and suffering punishments; the

merits of having great parents whom G-d wants to reward — leading Him

to be kind to us out of His love for our forefathers. The parsha also

repeats the Ten Commandments (with a few important alterations) and

contains the cardinal principles mapped out in the Shema. There are

promises of good things for those who do follow G-d’s commandments

(5:30).

On Tisha b’Av we remember millions who died over the millennium, as

well as millions who died in World War II. It is very intense. The

Kinot are heart wrenching, and can make us feel like the totality of

the Jewish experience before, during, and since the exile has been

doom and gloom. Those who have a more intense Tisha b’Av experience

walk away with a bad feeling, and even reading Devarim on the previous

Shabbat can help us get into such a state.

But Tisha b’Av comes before Va’etchanan. It simply cannot under any

circumstance — follow the uplifting message of Va’etchanan. The power

is in our hands. We can love G-d with all our heart and soul. We can

take to heart the message of how to fulfill commandments, and how to

understand the Ten Commandments. Were we to read them before Tisha

b’Av we might become too disheartened and depressed on Tisha b’Av to

remember their important messages.

Pay careful attention to this week’s Torah reading. It is a formula

for tremendous growth potential to those who take its words to heart

and act upon them.