Devar/5768/Devarim
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…וְלֹא אֲבִיתֶם, לַעֲלֹת; וַתַּמְרוּ, אֶת-פִּי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (שם כו)
עברית
English
And the thing pleased me well; and I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe; (Deu 1:23)
Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God (ibid. 26)
The portion of "devarim" is always read the shabbat before the fast of Tisha Be'av. The portion starts with words of admonishment for the Children of Israel, and therefore is particularly fitting to be read before the serious fast, in order to cause the public to repent. But an additional reason for the reading specifically at this time is that it hints to the primary reason for this fast -- the story of the spies.
Our Sages explain: And it is written: And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. (Num 14:1). Rava said in the name of Rabbi Yohanan, "That night was the the evening of Tisha Be'av. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, 'You were crying for no reason; I will establish for you a crying for your generations!' " (Babli Taaniot 29a)
And because they did not ascend to the chosen Land, they rebelled against the word of God and caused a "crying for the generations". The remedy for their sin is perfectly clear -- the descendants of those Children of Israel should ascend to the Land and dwell in it. By this means, they will usher in the period of the Mashiach, about which it says: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful seasons; therefore love ye truth and peace. (Zech 9:19). May it be His will!
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