rebuke

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1. Israel as Eden

   Rabbi Alex Israel | 35 minutes

   How do we relate to the content of the “Tohekha”? How do the blessings and curses relate to one another? Aided by various commentators, we look at different possibilities. Some comments by Rashi and Ramban lead us to think about a symbolic ideal of life in the Land of Israel as a reflection of the Garden of Eden, and we can then see the Tohekha in our parsha as part of a larger structure of messages in Vayikra.

2. Shall Kohen and Prophet be Slain in the Sanctuary?!

   Rabbi Moshe Taragin

   Why is the story of the murder of a Kohen and Prophet in the Beit Hamikdash so dominant in the midrashim and in the prayers of Tisha be-Av? The connection between him and the tragedy of Tisha be-Av is quite indirect; why, then, is his murder presented as such a fundamental and important event?

   The Sages pinpoint several sins that were themselves the cause of the destruction. Aside from these specific sins, the Sages regarded the nation's refusal to accept rebuke from the prophets as a fundamental factor leading to the great tragedy.

   The people would ignore the prophets of God and wave off their warnings with stubbornness and a complacency born of illusion. They convinced themselves that God would not destroy His own Temple. They wished to continue making merry and living their worry-free lives, rejecting out of hand the concept of reward and punishment. Additionally, people of vulgar spirit who were living successful lives were incapable of accepting advice from dusty, wandering moralizers.

   For this reason Yirmiyahu mourns for the destruction, which came about mostly because of the nation's inability to listen to the prophets and their messages. Every individual always has the ability to repent, thereby avoiding punishment and destruction. But the moment he shuts himself off and blocks his ears, the road to repentance is closed.

3. Yosef's Dreams and Prophecies of Rebuke

   Rabbi David Silverberg

4. Erev Shabbat Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelekh - Short Thoughts

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 7 minutes

   As in Ki Tavo, Parashat Nitzavim contains a brit of sorts as well as a tochecha (rebuke) of sorts. Commentators point out that there is a significant difference in that Nitzavim has an abrupt shift from the previous parshiyyot -from  second person plural to second person singular. What does this mean? One may be highlighting the role of the individual - but which parsha does this?

5. Short Thoughts on Ki Tavo - Rebuke without Consolation?

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 5 minutes

   Most of Parshat Ki Tavo is composed of the Tokhekha -the rebuke and the curses detailing what will happen if Bnei Yisrael do not keep the Divine Covenant. In many ways, the rebuke in this parsha is less harsh than the rebuke in Behukotai, but in Behukotai (in the book of Vayikra) there is also consolation at the end. In our parsha, there is no consolation – though next week’s parsha does contain consolation.

   Is there some meaning and educational or religious purpose in the division of the parshiyyot such that our parsha ends in the midst of despair? Perhaps the answer is connected to the time of year wherein this Parsha is read. A situation wherein we contemplate the dire situation for a while, and then receive a glimmer of hope, can be a catalyst for teshuva and growth.

6. When God is Uninterested in Sacrifices

   Rabbi David Silverberg