Shabbos Parashas Behar-Behukosai - 5777

Shabbos Parashas Behar-Behukosai - 5777

Rabbi Hal Miller

If you follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them

[Vayikra 26:3]

The second part, Bechukosai, of our double portion is known as the minor tochachah,

the smaller of the two sections of curses in the Torah. But it begins with 13 verses of

blessings. Even though there are 30 verses which list the various curses, is that a good

name for the parsha? What exactly is a blessing and a curse from G-d?

In many places, the Torah tells us of G-d granting a blessing to an individual. Many

commentators note that in our parsha, all the blessings are directed to the nation as a

whole. This answers an often-asked question, why is there no blessing here listed for

the World to Come, since that is a reward for each individual rather than the entire

nation.

Looking closely at this list of blessings, it appears that each applies to the land of Israel.

What about the curses? Verse 26:34 says, "Then the land will be appeased for its

sabbaticals". All the curses also seem to apply to the nation as a whole, and are

directly related to the land. It might seem, then, that the list of curses is merely a

continuation of the same point that the list of blessings is trying to make. In fact, in

26:40 we see, "Then they will confess their sin," which indicates that the purpose of

the curses is to get the nation to reverse its bad behavior in order to gain the listed

blessings. In that case, aren't the curses also blessings, even if in disguise? Instead of

reading it as what G-d will do to the nation, we can read it as things that G-d will NOT

do to the nation because they deserve blessing, assuming they act appropriately.

Our parsha teaches that blessings and curses from G-d are exactly the same thing,

merely presented in different forms. They show His abundant goodness, and promise

that He will share that goodness with us so long as we follow His decrees and

commandments.