Keeping The Promise Alive
D’var Torah for Parashat Bechukotai
By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman
Sometimes potted plants need to be replanted. The root system may have outgrown the original pot, or perhaps the soil isn’t appropriate, or has become depleted of nutrients.
This week’s Torah portion (Bechukotai, “By My Laws,” the last parasha in the book of Leviticus, chapters 26:3—27:34) contains a list of consequences resulting from following (or failing to follow) God’s commandments. One of these refers particularly to the laws regarding the maintenance of the Land. It’s pretty simple: If we follow God’s laws, then God “Will give the rain in its season, the earth shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely” (Lev. 26:4-5, NKJV). However, if we fail to observe these laws, then “Your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit…” (Lev. 26:20, 32). God “Will make your cities waste… and will bring the land into desolation.”
The worst of it is that, because of the ensuing desolation, the People of Israel would be dispersed to far and widespread places all over the world.
Yet God promises that even in the Diaspora, the Covenant would remain intact. Even when transplanted to foreign soil, as long as we held on to our faith, the People would remain God’s Chosen People and eventually would return to the Promised Land.
Throughout the 2000 years of the Diaspora caused by the Roman destruction of Judea, the validity of this promise has proven true. Despite oppression and persecution, the Jewish People have held fast to our beliefs. Adapting to various climates and cultures, we continued studying our Sacred Texts, we continued following the Commandments. There were dark times when we were forced to abandon or hide our faith, yet even then many continued practicing Judaism in secret, or held on to elements of the faith even without understanding the reason why.
Amazingly, even in the darkest of times, the bloody crusades, the pogroms in Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere, even during the Holocaust, many found the strength to hold on to their faith despite the horror and tragedy.
Some people may see the Torah as no more than stories or legends meant for a specific people and time. Yet the eternal truth of Bechukotai is found in the fact that Am Yisrael Chai, “the Jewish People yet lives.” Throughout our history, we learned to adapt while keeping our roots intact. No matter the soil or culture that surrounded us, we kept our traditions alive. We learned to adapt the ancient laws—sometimes with greater flexibility, at other times more stringently. But we never abandoned our basic beliefs. We maintained the connection to our lifeline, to the Source that kept nourishing and sustaining us.
To this day, the spiritual strength that the book of Leviticus imbues within us remains undiminished. We live in various lands—including now, thank God, also in the Land of Israel—while holding on to the goal Moses had set for us: to be a holy people, a light unto the nations. We do so not by being “holier than thou,” but rather by adhering to the basic premise of Leviticus: that being civil to one another, maintaining our dignity and humanity especially when bigotry, prejudice and hatred proliferate around us, will lead us forward despite all the challenges and obstacles along the way.
The People of Israel may have been uprooted and transplanted many times over throughout our history; yet, just as this portion promises, we continue producing fragrant blossom and resplendent fruit. It is the greatest possible blessing.
© 2022 by Boaz D. Heilman
No comments:
Post a Comment