Parshas Bechukosai
From Gory To Glory
By Rabbi Berel Wein
This week’s concluding parsha of the book of Vayikra contains a doleful
prophecy – the tochacha – of troubles and exile that would befall the
Jewish people in its future. It is not only the depressing content of the
tochacha but also its gory detail that has always troubled me. And, I also
questioned why the Torah should include a tochacha of this nature at all
in its writings. After all, warning people about what will happen to them
centuries later down the road of history rarely affects their current
behavior. People do all sorts of things when they are younger that they
know will be injurious to their health and even eventually shorten their
lifespan. And yet, they persist for the moment in doing what seems
enjoyable and pleasant to them, no matter what the later consequences will
be. A fair assessment of Jewish history will indicate that the threat of
the tochacha did not prevent the destruction of the First and Second
Temples and of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel. It is therefore
almost reasonable to state that the tochacha is not so much a warning to
Israel as it is a sad prediction of events that will happen. But that
still begs the question of why so much detail. A general statement of the
ills of the destruction of national sovereignty and of forced exile from
one’s own homeland would apparently have sufficed as a prediction of
future events.
The Talmud at the conclusion of mesechet Makot relates the story of Rabbi
Akiva and his colleagues who viewed the ruins of the Second Temple. As
they stood there and gazed in awe at the site of what once was the most
beautiful structure in the world, a fox emerged from the ruins of where
the Holy of Holies had stood. Rabbi Akiva’s companions wept at the sight
of desolation and despair that now unfolded before their eyes. Rabbi Akiva
however laughed in delight. When asked by his incredulous colleagues as to
why he was laughing, he answered: “There are two prophecies recorded
regarding the future of the Jewish people. One predicted that a fox would
emerge from the ruins of the Temple. The other prediction was that Jewish
old men and women would sit in joy and contentment in the streets of
Jerusalem and watch children at play. Only when the first prophecy about
the fox emerged in reality and exact detail before my very eyes did I
realize that the second prophecy would also come true in full detail and
accuracy.” The Torah told us in awful detail everything that the tochacha
entailed. We are living witness to the chilling accuracy of every one of
its words. There is no prose or hyperbole in the holy Torah. Every word is
the truth. Therefore the Torah spent space and detail in describing the
tochacha to us, so that we can rest assured that all of the blessings that
also appear in this week’s parsha will be fulfilled in every glorious
detail. May we merit that speedily and in our days.
Shabat shalom.
Rabbi Berel Wein
Text Copyright © 2005 by Rabbi Berel Wein and Torah.org
Visit www.rabbiwein.com for a complete selection of Rabbi Wein's books and tapes.
