AIMeM would like to thank Samantha Azizo for filling in this week
In this week's Parasha, V'Etchanan, we
come across two of the most widely known concepts in Judaism, the Ten
Commandments, and the Shema. Of course one can say that this Parasha is filled
with insight and depth into the basic tenants of our lives as Jews, however, as
important as these concepts may be, it is imperative to realize that in truth,
every passuk in this week's Parasha carries depth, insight, and an important
message. Having said that, zeroing in on one seemingly insignificant pasuk teaches
us an essential lesson.
In perek 3 pasuk 29, the Torah says
"וַנֵּשֶׁב בַּגָּיְא מוּל בֵּית פְּעוֹר"-
"and we settled in the valley, opposite Beit Peor". At first
glance the passuk seems to be simply retelling the history of Bnei Yisrael and
their travels in the desert for 40 years. Yet, by breaking down the passuk one
can propose a deeper explanation.
The first word "וַנֵּשֶׁב", means to sit or settle, and the
next word "בַּגָּיְא" means valley,
as translated above. It is from these words that one can derive the message. In
Judaism, a person can never "sit" or "settle" on the level
that he or she is currently on. Doing so will lead us to a "valley",
which is defined as a low place. Being a Jew and striving to create a
meaningful life and relationship with Hashem requires constant movement towards
growth and ascent. Otherwise, as often seen, a person will tumble right down
into a lower level.
To further establish this concept one
can take a look at the end of the passuk. It ends, "מוּל
בֵּית פְּעוֹר"- meaning that Bnei Yisrael settled near this place. Beit
Peor represents the idol known as Baal Peor, and references an incident when
Bnei Yisrael succumbed to the enticements of Moav and worshipped this idol.
This is meant to reinforce the above idea that if we settle on the level we are
on, and we do not attempt to reach a higher level, not only will we be stuck in
a valley, but we will likely fall into the most grievous of sins, such as avoda
zara.
There is a commonly used analogy to
portray the above lesson involving a downward escalator. If a person gets on a
downward escalator but wants to climb upwards and remain on the top, one cannot
simply stop on a step. Stopping will pull a person downward until he or she
reaches the bottom, exactly where they do not want to be. So too in the life of
a Jew; a Jew must persistently climb upwards towards the "top of the
escalator". Stopping on this incline will only result in a decline, which
will ultimately lead to falling back to the lowest point.
The same idea can be seen with the
configuration of the Mizbeach (altar). In Shemot 20:23, Hashem tells Moshe that
the Mizbeach should NOT have steps, but a ramp leading up to it. The simple p'shat
explanation of this commandment is for the sake of preserving modesty within
the nation to the highest degree. However, the deeper understanding of drash
tells us that the ramp represents a constant need to go forwards. Gravity will
pull a person down if he or she stops in the middle of a ramp. In other words,
stopping one's spiritual growth is not an option!
It is now clear that this seemingly
minor passuk carries a timeless lesson for all of us. Being Jewish means we are
always reaching for something more, always trying to climb higher in every
aspect of our spiritual health. Of course one should note that rushing one's
growth process can be dangerous, but stopping and settling on the level we are
currently on is just as bad. Time and time again our nation has never settled
for less which has truly allowed us to persevere throughout the ages.
Shabbat Shalom!
Samantha Azizo is originally from Queens, NY. She studied for three years in Baer Miriam Seminary in Har Nof. She is currently working on a degree in Business Writing. She is a first-time contributor to AIMeM.
For any questions, comments, or to subscribe to our email list, please email is at AIMeMtorah@gmail.com.
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