Weekly Dvar Torah FROM ERETZ YISRAEL The Ten Commandments of Tisha B’Av

BY RABBI YOSEF ZVI RIMON

Every year, we read the Ten Commandments in Parashat Va’etchanan after Tisha B’Av. The first Ten Commandments, in Parashat Yitro, are not read at the same time each year, and change according to the calendar.

The only fixed readings of the Ten Commandments are, of course, on Shavuot, and the Shabbat after Tisha B’Av. Why?

The Ten Commandments in Yitro are the Ten Commandments of the “Desert Generation.”

The Ten Commandments in Va’etchanan are the Ten Commandments of the generation coming into Eretz Yisrael.

This difference is particularly evident in the fourth commandment, Shabbat. In Yitro, the commandment talks about a beheima, a domesticated animal, in general, while in Va’etchanan, the Torah specifies an ox and a donkey. These two species are used to work the land. Unnecessary in the desert because they had divinely-provided manna, but now they were coming into Eretz Yisrael, they needed to work!

On Shavuot, we received the Torah in the desert. On Tisha B’Av, because of the Sin of the Spies, it was decreed that our ancestors would not enter the Land. Immediately after Tisha B’Av, we begin the tikkun, the correction process (and indeed, most of the customs of the 15th of Av – when the desert generation stopped dying – are connected to Eretz Yisrael). We’re now on a different track. Ten Commandments not for manna eaters but for people about to work and put in some hard labor. Therefore, in chapters 6–11, the Torah stresses the need to feel the Hand of G-d in every area of life. And for a person working to put food on the table, this realization is constantly critical!

Va’etchanan Sidra Summary

nations. He warns them not to forget the historic revelation at Mount Sinai, in which G-d Himself spoke the Ten Commandments from the midst of the fire. Moshe adds that they must not make any idols, and warns them against worshipping the sun, the moon or the stars. He warns them that failure to heed this will result in exile from the Land. However, G-d will never abandon His nation; they will always be able to return to Him.

3RD ALIYA (SHLISHI) – 4:41-49

We can also add that Am Yisrael left Egypt on Pesach and received the Torah after 49 days. Moshe went up to receive the Two Tablets and came down on the 17th Tammuz, only to witness the Golden Calf. Imagine what would have happened had there been no Golden Calf. On 18th Tammuz, Am Yisrael would have continued their journey straight to Eretz Yisrael for just another 11 days (see Devarim 1:2 and Rashbam’s comments). We could have already arrived at Ben-Gurion on 29th Tammuz!

Rosh Chodesh Av was meant to be a holiday celebrating our entry into Eretz Yisrael but due to the Sin of the Spies on Tisha B’Av, it became a time of sadness. However, after the ‘Desert Generation’ stopped dying on the 15th of Av, we were ready to come back again, to celebrate Eretz Yisrael.

Therefore, we always read the Ten Commandments after Tisha B’Av. The Ten Commandments of the entry into the Land – of ox and donkey, of Divine Revelation not only on Har Sinai but in agricultural work in Eretz Yisrael, in our hard labor and even in wars, all through which the A-lmighty’s Kingship is revealed in the world.

In our generation, the generation of “Shivat Zion,” we are blessed with another level of divine revelation. Yes, we live and build this country through our own efforts but we surely see the Hand of G-d pushing us all the time on the way to the Final Redemption.

1ST ALIYA (KOHEN) – DEVARIM 3:23-4:4

Moshe recalls that after defeating Sichon and Og in battle (see Devarim 2:31-3:11), he prayed to be allowed to enter the Land of Cana’an (see Rashi). G-d refused Moshe’s request, allowing him only to see the Land from afar. Moshe tells the people to observe the mitzvot, which will allow them to inherit the Land and he reminds them of the punishments they witnessed when the nation strayed after the idol of Pe’or (see Bemidbar 25:3).

Point to Consider: What is an example of the prohibition of “not adding to the words” of the Torah? (see Rashi to 4:2)

2ND ALIYA (LEVI) – 4:5-40

Moshe tells the people that studying Torah and keeping the mitzvot will raise their stature in the eyes of the other

Moshe sets aside three cities to the east of the Jordan River. These cities are to provide refuge for a person who has killed accidentally and is fleeing from the relatives of the deceased.

4TH ALIYA (REVI’I) – 5:1-5:18

Moshe again stresses that the people stood “face to face” with G-d at the time of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Moshe recalls the Ten Commandments:

1. Faith in G-d’s existence

2. Prohibition of idol worship

3. Prohibition of taking G-d’s Name in vain

4. Remembering Shabbat to keep it holy and refraining from ‘melacha’ (creative labours)

5. Honouring one’s parents

6. You shall not murder

7. You shall not commit adultery

8. You shall not steal

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Head of Mizrachi’s Educational Advisory Board and Rabbinic Council. He serves as the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion, Rosh Yeshivah of the Jerusalem College of Technology and is the Founder and Chairman of Sulamot and La’Ofek.

“Bind them as a sign upon your arm and let them be an emblem between your eyes”

(Devarim 6:8)

9. You shall not bear false testimony

10. You shall not covet what others have

5TH ALIYA (CHAMISHI) – 5:19-6:3

Moshe recalls that the heads of the tribes and the elders asked him to relay G-d’s commandments to them; they feared they would die if they continued to hear the commandments directly from G-d. G-d agreed to their request.

6TH ALIYA (SHISHI) – 6:4-25

The paragraph of Shema Yisrael is stated, in which the Jewish people are enjoined to believe in the Oneness of G-d, to love Him, to teach Torah, to wear tefilin and to affix mezuzot to their doorposts. Moshe warns the people not to allow the material attractions of the Land to cause them to neglect their service of G-d, nor to test

Him like they did in the desert.

7TH ALIYA (SHEVI’I) – 7:1-11

When the Israelites come into the Land of Cana’an, they will successfully overcome seven great and mighty nations. Moshe warns them not to enter into a covenant with these nations, nor to intermarry with them. Israel is G-d’s chosen nation, whom He lovingly brought out of Egypt.

HAFTARAH NACHAMU

Taken from the book of Yeshaya, this is the first of the seven ‘haftarot of consolation’ read after Tisha B’Av. It starts with G-d’s instruction to the prophets to “Comfort, comfort My people” (Nachamu, nachamu, ami) and goes on to prophesy that G-d will return to Jerusalem and bring an end to the exile.

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