THEY ARE FINE JUST AS THEY ARE

Parashat Va’etchanan – Shabbat Nachamu
Av 15, 5781 / July 23-24, 2021
Torah: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1-26 (First Haftarah of Comfort)
 
This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Comfort, for the words of God and the prophet following Tisha B'Av (9 Av).

This Shabbat also falls on Tu B'Av, the 15th of Av, traditionally a day for celebrating the beginning of the grape harvest in the Land of Israel, and more importantly for us all, a day for celebrating love.
 
This d'var torah is offered in honor of Jessica Danhi, who is celebrating her Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat. Mazal tov to Jessica and her family!
 
Jessica has asked as part of her mitzvah project that the next time you come to TBH/CBM, please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for SOVA. The need is as great as it's ever been.
 
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Elisheva bat Minnie Leah, Feigel bat Kreina, and D'vorah bat Feigel. 
 
Our TBH/CBM Rabbi Jason Van Leeuwen has a timely D’var Torah which you should read at: 

https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/20/shavua-tov-july-20-2021-12-av-5781-the-megillah-of-julia-haart/  

 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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THEY ARE FINE JUST AS THEY ARE
 
“You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you subtract from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2
 
Rabbi Alexander Moshe Lapidot taught: “A Jew must find the golden, middle path (citing Rambam) in the fear/awe of God and in the observance of the mitzvot. Just as a wicked person is liable to violate the prohibition of “you shall not subtract”, a righteous person is liable to violate the prohibition of “you shall not add”, and can thereby bring tragedy upon the world.”
 
Jewish tradition understands that there are two general types of mitzvot: bein adam lamakom (between a human being and God) and bein adam l’chaveiro (between a human being and his/her fellow human). Rabbi Lapidot seems to be talking only about the first type. The Vilna Gaon taught that there was a third category: bein adam l’atzmo (between a human and him/herself). These divisions matter. 
 
Whether a person violates or makes stricter upon him/herself a mitzvah bein adam lamakom is strictly between them – God can reward or punish as God sees fit. Regarding a mitzvah bein adam l’atzmo – the only one affected is the person – no one else.
 
But, someone who alters or ignores or makes easier (for themselves) or makes stricter (for others) the mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro regarding interpersonal relationships, damages others and society. For these mitzvot, the person doing the adding/subtracting must answer one simple question: Who benefits from my change to this mitzvah? If the answer is, “I do,” then one might well be causing a tragedy.
 
Shabbat Shalom.
 
Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus
TBH/CBM
Sherman Oaks, CA
".איזה הוא חכם? הלומד מכל אדם"
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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