Parshas Vaeschanan (Nachamu) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
כי עם קדוש אתה לה' אלקיך בך בחר ה' אלקיך להיות לו לעם סגלה מכל העמים ... (ז-ו)
Each day we recite a beracha that echoes the words of this posuk: "אשר בחר בנו מכל העמים" - these are the words of birchas haTorah. The Ramban says that the word "בחירה" - “choosing”, connotes choosing from other options. The question asked is that Hashem went to all the other nations of thr world asking if they would accept the Torah. They all quickly declined. The last nation “standing” was the Yidden. In what way was that a בחירה? There was no one else left but us! So it should've said we chose Hashem, as opposed to the goyim who refused the offer.
Perhaps this week of Shabbos Nachamu contains part of the answer. Granted, we accepted the offer while they did not. But what happens when the going gets rough? When we rebel? When we sin and desert Him? Hashem could have easily terminated our relationship with Him, ending our destiny. Yet He did not. Through thick and thin, He kept us as His chosen nation. [And we reciprocated, remaining steadfastedly true to Him throughout our exiles.] As Chazal teach us "בנים אתם", even when we sin,"נקראו בנים למקום" - we are referred to as the “sons of the Almighty.” Hence, even if the goyim would have accepted the Torah, it wouldn’t have been to such a degree, on such an “intimate” level. Only Klal Yisroel was zoche to such a close relationship. That was the "בחירה" that Hashem exhibited.
R’ Matisyahu Salomon zt”l once quoted his rebbi, R’ Elya Lopian zt”l: If we’d have asked "מה כתיב בה" the way the goyim did, what would Hashem have said? Reb Elya ventured to answer that Hashem would have told us that the Torah prohibits לשון הרע; a most daunting challenge. On this special Shabbos when we continue to revel in our bond with Hashem, and while anticipating Moshiach’s imminent arrival, we must continue to improve in our lashon tov, showing אהבת חינם in place of the שנאת חינם. And that will בעזרת ה' facilitate the speedy rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash במהרה בימינו. נחמו נחמו עמי