Shabbat Parashat Re'eh - 5783

Shabbat Parashat Re'eh - 5783

Rabbi Hal Miller

Safeguard and listen to all these matters that I command you in order that it be well

with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and what is

right in the eyes of Hashem your God. [Devarim 12:28]

In Shemot [24:7], all the people respond to Moshe, na'aseh v'nishma, we will do and

we will hear. Although it seems from a logical standpoint that the words should be

reversed, there are many clear explanations as to why they are as they are. Our verse

seems to have a similar issue, "safeguard and listen". How can one guard something

before hearing what it is?

Rashi defines safeguard as study, meaning to learn and review the Torah so that it will

not be forgotten. In that context, it makes sense to study and to listen to a teacher, so

the order of the words can be understood either way. Rav Hirsch is close to this when

he says it means to listen carefully to all the words that I command you. Onkelos is also

close, "observe and accept all these words".

Torah Temimah understands it slightly differently. "Take heed and hearken. If you take

heed a little, you will ultimately hearken much." This seems closer to the na'aseh v'nishma

idea.

Kol Dodi asks our question and gives us a solid answer. "It would seem the first two words

should be reversed, first hear the commandments then you will be able to keep them. What

Moshe was saying is that if you keep the letter of the law then you will merit to hear what

God really wants of you." According to this, Moshe was taking the congregation up on their

offer of na'aseh v'nishma. They said, we will do and we will hear, so now Moshe replies,

guard the commandments and you will hear.

Perhaps we can also relate this word order to the teaching of our Sages that it is better to

perform a mitzvah not for the right reasons than not to perform it at all, because by doing so

on a regular basis one may some day come to perform it for the right reasons. With Rosh

Chodesh Elul and the days of judgment coming up, this might be a good time to implement

what Moshe says in our verse.