Rabbi Frand on Parshas Ha'azinu
This dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 296, Does
Eating Mezonos Require a Succah? Good Shabbos and G'mar Chasima Tova!
When The Maps of Countries Are Being Redrawn -- Hold Your Breath!
The Torah states "Remember the days of old, understand the years of
generation and generation. Ask your father and he will relate it to you,
your elders and they will tell you." [Devorim 32:7]. Rash"i does not
explain this pasuk [verse] according to the simple reading. Rather, Rash"i
explains the pasuk as a warning: "Look at what happened to other people
who came before you, when they angered Me." "Understand the years of
generation _after_ generation" refers to the era of Enosh upon whom HaShem
[G-d] poured forth the waters of the Ocean and to the era of the (people
of the) Flood, whom HaShem washed away.
The next pasuk continues, "When the Supreme One distributed to nations
their portions, when He separated the children of man, He set the borders
of nations according to the number of the Children of Israel." [32:8].
Rash"i similarly interprets this pasuk: "when He separated the children of
man" refers to the Dor Haflaga [Generation of the Dispersion]. This is
what happens to those who anger HaShem.
However, we have a long-standing tradition that "Scriptural verses
[pasukim] do not leave their simple interpretation" [Shabbos 63a; Yevamos
11b; 24a]. Rash"i himself says in a number of places that even though at
times he is providing a Midrashic interpretation, the simple
interpretation of the pasuk remains. The simple interpretation of these
pasukim is an admonition to us to understand history and learn its
lessons.
The traditional Jewish belief is that HaShem is not only the Creator of
Heaven and Earth, but that He is the G-d of history. The historical events
that we witness are the means by which HaShem is continuously directing
His world. Simply stated, these pasukim are teaching us that when HaShem
establishes the boundaries of the world, it is ultimately because of the
Children of Israel. The different wars and conflicts that take place in
the world and the different border changes that occur -- according to the
simple reading of our pasukim -- all occur because of their ultimate
impact on the Jewish nation.
There is a quote from the writings of Rav Elchanon Wasserman (who himself
was killed by the Nazis at the beginning of World War II): The Torah gave
us a great key to understand the hinge upon which all historical events
revolve -- Devorim 32:8 (the previously quoted pasuk). HaShem sets the
borders of nations and causes nations to inherit for the sake of the Jews.
History revolves around the Jews. "For Hashem's share is His people;
Yaakov is the portion of His possession" [32:9].
Rav Elchanon continued (regarding the Peace Treaty ending World War I),
"when the map of Europe was drawn up in Versailles, the borders were
already set in Heaven". Sometimes it takes us years, decades, or centuries
to put the pieces together. Sometimes, in the interval, the activities
seem to have nothing to do with the Jewish people. But the great lesson of
history that we are taught in the opening pasukim of this week's parsha is
that when HaShem sets up the borders of nations, it is for the sake of the
Children of Israel.
I recently read (1993) that the people in MacMillan and Company -- the
mapmakers -- are having a very hard time these days. We think that we have
hard jobs! -- Imagine the job of mapmakers! -- It has been a very
difficult couple of years for them. They had just finished their latest
edition of the Atlas, in which they printed East Germany and West Germany.
Bonn and Berlin were the respective capitals. All of a sudden, they had to
reprint the map. OK, done. Now they think that now they are set. Then,
all of a sudden, Yugoslavia divides -- Serbia, Croatia, we can not even
pronounce all these names! When we are talking maps or when we discuss
borders -- ultimately we are talking Klal Yisroel.
One does not have to be a politically astute individual to realize the
momentousness of the breakup of the Soviet Union. The mapmakers do not know
from day to day whether they should draw 15 republics or 12 republics. We
ask ourselves what difference does it make if Azerbaijan decides to become
independent or not. What is the meaning of all these changes?
This is the lesson of history that we should never forget. These events --
the placement of national boundaries -- have an impact on Klal Yisroel.
At the beginning of World War I, the Ottoman Empire chose the wrong side
and allied themselves with the Germans. At that time, one would have had
to be exceedingly insightful to have realized that this decision would
have a major impact on Jewish history in the twentieth century. Our
tendency would have been to think, "Who cares? What's the difference?" But
that single event -- coupled with the fact that there was this little
country called "Palestine" under the rule of the Ottoman Turks -- had
major ramifications.
When Germany (and the Ottoman Empire) eventually lost World War I; their
empires were disassembled. Part of the price that the Ottoman Empire paid
for "picking the wrong horse" was that they lost their empire. Their
little protectorate called "Palestine" became the British Mandate of
Palestine. Not long after that there was a proclamation called the Balfour
Declaration. Who would have thought that the Ottoman Turk's poor decision
would lead toward the Jews attaining an independent homeland in the Land
of Israel?
When we see maps changing -- we need to hold our breaths. This has to do
with us. Somehow or another, we will be in the center of this. Sometimes
it is for our benefit. Sometimes, G-d forbid, it is to our detriment. But
we are always on center stage because "Yaakov chevel nachalos" [Jacob is
the portion of His possession]. We are the protectorate of the Master of
the Universe.
This write-up was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tape series on the weekly Torah portion.
The complete list of halachic topics covered in this series for Parshas
Ha'azinu are provided below:
