In the dvar Torah for Parshat Re'eh: A Nation of Volunteers, Rav Avigdor Miller discusses the politically incorrect scenario of the Ihr Hanidachat — the idol-worshiping city commanded to be destroyed by fellow Jews.
It's just supposed to be left there as a burned & ruined heap.
No one is allowed to salvage anything from this punished city, not even the most innocent item wholly free of idolatry.
This is because in order to be internally liberated from tumah (spiritual impurity), one must make a total separation from it.
It's just supposed to be left there as a burned & ruined heap.
No one is allowed to salvage anything from this punished city, not even the most innocent item wholly free of idolatry.
This is because in order to be internally liberated from tumah (spiritual impurity), one must make a total separation from it.
True Love Means Going Beyond the Letter of the Law
On pages 5-7, Rav Miller illustrates the importance of going beyond the letter of the law by delving into a sugya in Masechet Sukkot on shaking the lulav.
Then he gives the example of a child who wishes to please his parent.
If the child notices something that the parent desires, and the child has the means & abilities to give or perform it for the parent, then a devoted child will certainly do so.
And that's how we should behave with Hashem.
On pages 9-13, Rav Miller sings the praises of Am Yisrael by detailing how far we go to serve Hashem beyond the letter of the law.
We could settle for the law as described in the basic text. (Rav Miller describes a bit what Judaism would be like without all the rabbinical law, and page 9 was a shocker. We are definitely richer for all the Talmud has to offer.)
Throughout history, we've been ridiculed for this.
Rav Miller mentions the ridicule of the Tzaddokim (Sadducees), the followers of the gospels, and the Reform movement.
Those were the big ones that still affect us today.
And the ancients also felt Am Yisrael took things too far. After all, many felt fine about us serving Hashem. But why couldn't we worship their gods and kings too?
This has been & will continue to be a criticism of us until Mashiach comes and the Truth is revealed.
Then he gives the example of a child who wishes to please his parent.
If the child notices something that the parent desires, and the child has the means & abilities to give or perform it for the parent, then a devoted child will certainly do so.
And that's how we should behave with Hashem.
On pages 9-13, Rav Miller sings the praises of Am Yisrael by detailing how far we go to serve Hashem beyond the letter of the law.
We could settle for the law as described in the basic text. (Rav Miller describes a bit what Judaism would be like without all the rabbinical law, and page 9 was a shocker. We are definitely richer for all the Talmud has to offer.)
Throughout history, we've been ridiculed for this.
Rav Miller mentions the ridicule of the Tzaddokim (Sadducees), the followers of the gospels, and the Reform movement.
Those were the big ones that still affect us today.
And the ancients also felt Am Yisrael took things too far. After all, many felt fine about us serving Hashem. But why couldn't we worship their gods and kings too?
This has been & will continue to be a criticism of us until Mashiach comes and the Truth is revealed.
The Cast-Offs of History
And where are these groups today?
So many of our critics disappeared over time.
The Saducees & Karaites may exist in spirit to an extent, but these groups no longer exist by those names as a threat to us.
The very powerful empires that spanned the globe no longer exist.
Like David Hamelech said in Tehillim 102:27, the other nations go lost while Hashem endures. They get all ratty & disintegrate like a garment. Sure, you can patch up a garment to a certain extent. But at some point, it is simply no longer viable. And then it is used as a rag while another garment comes to take its place. At some point, it is simply cast out.
(Rashi's interpretation is interesting in that he describes it as a garment being turned inside out as it is removed. Don't we see this happening now? Nations are being turned inside-out on their way out.)
So many of our critics disappeared over time.
The Saducees & Karaites may exist in spirit to an extent, but these groups no longer exist by those names as a threat to us.
The very powerful empires that spanned the globe no longer exist.
Like David Hamelech said in Tehillim 102:27, the other nations go lost while Hashem endures. They get all ratty & disintegrate like a garment. Sure, you can patch up a garment to a certain extent. But at some point, it is simply no longer viable. And then it is used as a rag while another garment comes to take its place. At some point, it is simply cast out.
(Rashi's interpretation is interesting in that he describes it as a garment being turned inside out as it is removed. Don't we see this happening now? Nations are being turned inside-out on their way out.)
How to REALLY Change with the Times
Rav Miller then notes that in order to endure today's storm winds of change, one must push forward into the wind.
If you try to stand straight or even lean back the tiniest bit, the wind will blow you down.
This is a major reason why in some ways to some people, certain aspects of Torah Judaism seem more extreme than they were at one time.
(It's definitely not the only reason, but it is a major one.)
While I'll always disagree with anyone who claims that the movies or radio of our grandparents' times were innocent (Rav Miller does NOT say they were innocent, BTW), there was significantly less filth & immoral brainwashing & propaganda than there is today.
Much of radio & all of the silver screen was co-opted from its inception by pervs & losers, and they snuck in a lot of their degenerate values. But society & their sponsors simply did not allow them to wreak the havoc they wreak now.
So while at one time, even seriously frum homes hosted a radio & the main newspaper of their city...but today, they can't.
And that's the real way to "change with the times."
We need to push back against the storm winds.
Perhaps this is one reason why the emphasis on simcha & gratitude has become such a focus in recent years.
In a variety of doublespeak & images & stories, our current cultural climate screams at us: DESPAIR! DESPAIR! DESPAIR!
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE! DO WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO!
And we scream back: MITZVAH GADOLAH L'HIYOT B'SIMCHA TAMID — IT'S A GREAT MITZVAH TO ALWAYS BE HAPPY!
And we shout: HALLELUHU — PRAISE HIM! And we say TODAH — THANK YOU, HASHEM!
And yes, the winds may knock us flat on our faces, leaving us to peel ourselves off all the gravel & schmutz.
But we still try.
And that's what counts.
If you try to stand straight or even lean back the tiniest bit, the wind will blow you down.
This is a major reason why in some ways to some people, certain aspects of Torah Judaism seem more extreme than they were at one time.
(It's definitely not the only reason, but it is a major one.)
While I'll always disagree with anyone who claims that the movies or radio of our grandparents' times were innocent (Rav Miller does NOT say they were innocent, BTW), there was significantly less filth & immoral brainwashing & propaganda than there is today.
Much of radio & all of the silver screen was co-opted from its inception by pervs & losers, and they snuck in a lot of their degenerate values. But society & their sponsors simply did not allow them to wreak the havoc they wreak now.
So while at one time, even seriously frum homes hosted a radio & the main newspaper of their city...but today, they can't.
And that's the real way to "change with the times."
We need to push back against the storm winds.
Perhaps this is one reason why the emphasis on simcha & gratitude has become such a focus in recent years.
In a variety of doublespeak & images & stories, our current cultural climate screams at us: DESPAIR! DESPAIR! DESPAIR!
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE! DO WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO!
And we scream back: MITZVAH GADOLAH L'HIYOT B'SIMCHA TAMID — IT'S A GREAT MITZVAH TO ALWAYS BE HAPPY!
And we shout: HALLELUHU — PRAISE HIM! And we say TODAH — THANK YOU, HASHEM!
And yes, the winds may knock us flat on our faces, leaving us to peel ourselves off all the gravel & schmutz.
But we still try.
And that's what counts.
A big THANK YOU to Toras Avigdor for providing such important material to help us push back against the stormwinds.
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