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Parshat Vayelech
By: Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron

בס"ד

לשכנו תדרשו

Cleaving to the Holy Presence in Our Holy Land

And Moshe Called Joshua... Be strong and mighty for You will bring the People to the Land HaShem Swore to their Patriarchs'

 

"Our Father, our King! We have no King other than You!'

The realization that only HaShem our God is the real Power responsible for all that transpires upon us instills us both with great awe and a feeling of great freedom from all 'powers' that seem to 'enslave' us throughout our lives. This realization needs to be taken continuously throughout life in order for it to take a substantial hold of our lives, bringing us to the exultation of faith and freedom of spirit, as we say on Rosh HaShana, 'exulted is the man who does not forget You and son of Man who 'holds' on to You'. The word used in this prayer for making effort to 'hold' unto HaShem, 'yitametz', is echoed in this week's parsha, in the command to Joshua' to be strong and mighty', 'hazak ve'ematz', in bringing the People of Israel to conquer the Land of Israel in our title quote.

Our Sages explain (Brachot 32b) that Joshua was commanded by this double terminology to strengthen himself through both Torah study, 'hazak', and good deeds, 'ematz'. We can thereby infer that 'strengthening one's 'hold' unto God' throughout life implies taking the awesome realization we just mentioned into both the cognitive realm of Torah study and the practical realm of good deeds. We may say that, although strengthening one's thoughts on God is important at all times, it takes special significance in regard to Torah study and good deeds. This means that before studying Torah or doing a good deed it is good to contemplate that one is doing so for HaShem's sake (as was enacted by our Sages by blessings on Torah and mitzvoth, leshem yichud, etc.). Also, even if one is doing an action that can have external motives, such as earning a living, it is good to have intent to do that action for HaShem's sake (see Rambam Deot ch. 3). For example, a grocer can have intent to provide people with good food, so they can be healthy and serve God, and that the profit he earns should allow him to serve God with peace of mind and good resolve. In this way, one can turn all of one's actions into 'good deeds', and 'strengthen' one's connection to God always.

This spiritual work takes on an even greater level in the Land of Israel, where all good actions, even those that seem very mundane, enhance Israel's settlement of the Holy Land, thereby enhancing the power of the Holy Presence. In this way the command to Joshua 'to be strong for you will bring the People to the Land' can be interpreted not only as a responsibility put upon Joshua but also as a gift given to Joshua, saying that 'because you are entering this Land you will be given the Divine gift of indeed being strong' and successful in all your tasks, in Torah study and good deeds, etc.

One of the fascinating victories of Joshua was over five kings of different cities who united together to fight Israel. These cities were Jerusalem, Hebron, Yarmut, Lachish, and Eglon. Based on the intricate relationship between Jerusalem and Hebron we have discussed many times, we may infer that the other three cities mentioned in this context may convey a unique synthesis between Jerusalem and Hebron. The name Yarmut includes the first and last letters of Jerusalem 'Yar' and 'Mu', while the last 'tav' seems to be indicative of Hebron, as 'tav' means 'sign' in Hebrew, and 'sign' is synonymous to 'Zion' which signifies Hebron according  to the Arizal (also 'tav' has numerical equivalent of 400 - the 400 silver pieces Avraham bought Maaras HaMachpela). God willing we will continue with the other cities in next week's issue. 

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Real Stories from the Holy Land #190

'One week three electric lights stopped working in our house, which was just at the same time I stopped to deliver a Torah class in my neighborhood. When I resumed my class, that very same day I was finally able to fix the electric light bulb (light is considered related to Torah study).' A.G

Sample Prayer #3: 'Blessed are You... returns His Holy Presence to Zion (see previous issues). Thank You for Your Holy Land and Temple (imagine yourself in the Temple),  thank You for Hebron and Jerusalem. Thank You for strengthening our awe of You in Your Torah and commandments, and thank You for allowing us to settle Your Holy Land, Land of Complete Awe (yirah shelema - Yerushalem). Indeed, may we see Your Presence return to Zion...'

Sources: Joshua ch. 10, Rambam Deot 3, Brachot 32b

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