Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Netzavim #2- Including EVERY person
In parshat nitzavim, which starts in Perek כט Pasuk ט, Moshe gathers all of Bnei Yisrael, And spends two psukim specifying the different people in Bnei Yisrael standing before him, ranging from "your elders and your officers" to "your water drawers". In Pasuk yud it says "your convert who is within your camp both your woodcutters and your water drawers", which rashi comments on and says that Moshe did not accept these converts to be Jews, so he made them the water drawers and wood cutters. Why does Moshe take the time to address every single type of person he gathered and who stood before him?
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Reuven Firestone comments and explains how Moshe begins with addressing all of the people of Bnei Yisrael. No one was excluded, including the further generations- as it says, " … those who are standing here with us this day before the Eternal our God and … those who are not with us here this day" (29:14) explaining how every Jew of every generation will be a witness to what was about to happen (Hashem taking them into ארץ ישראל) because Hashem is taking them out of Egypt and everyone should be following the laws of Hashem, everyone has to be told about what will happen (all the good and all the bad) whether you will be cursed or blessed if you do or don't follow the laws. To make it more personal and show everyone that this applies to each and every one of you, Moshe listed every single type of person.
ReplyDeleteRav Mordechai Sabato says that the reason Moshe listed every single type of person, even the people who aren't accepted as Jews, is because he didn't want to forget a single one. Moshe wanted every person to be included and know their requirements, and he didn't want to let even one person "escape" the covenant. It didn't matter what generation or social level, EVERY person had to be mentioned and included.
ReplyDeleteSeforno says that the reason why Moshe takes the time to address every single type of person he gathered because it is to make sure that anyone who may be able to mislead him cannot do this. So, he is being careful to make sure everyone is being honest by being on top of every type of person gathered. I think this is a very unique approach to the question because it is showing an aspect of the lack of trust that may be brought with the idea of addressing every type of man. It wouldn't be so obvious when reading the pshat that there is a lack of trust in Moshe's eyes, but Seforno is suggesting an opinion in which this is the reason.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, says that when reading this pasuk we see that EVERY member is there being addressed, not a single person can miss this crucial moment. He then asks why would this be? He says, the torah counts every type of person, in every community; leaders, parents, rich, poor, young, old, no matter the job, everybody is being counted. This is due to the fact that we need to stand before God as a community. We need to be unified. By Moshe listing out every single person, it is creating a bond between everyone, by counting everyone, everyone is equal and together. Creating a special community and unity amongst all of Bnei Yesroel.
ReplyDeleteThe חזקוני says that the reason Moshe addressed every type of person, important and not important, was to enter the ברית (the next pasuk), and it was for all of bnei yisroel, not just the important people.
ReplyDeleteThis comes to show that even if you aren't a גדול or זקן, you are still important and you matter to Hashem's ברית.
Ramban says moshe specifically gathered all these people because he wanted them all to be there to hear the brit and convenant from Hashem. The brit from Hashem was that if you keep the torah Hashem will be your god but if you dont you'll be cursed. Hashem then threw blood from the korban on mizbaech and the other half on bnei yisroel like Hashem did by har sinai. This brit was important for bnei yiroel ALL to hear and accept.
ReplyDeleteRashi commnets on this saying that Moshe announced the people in order of importance. I think Moshe listed every person who was there because it showed the importance of the event. By listing all the important people that were there it created a more serious atmosphere for what Moshe had to say.
ReplyDelete