|
The Foundation of Return
By Our
Righteous Rabbi Yona Gerundi,
May the Remembrance of the Righteous be a Blessing
A Project of "The Mussar Room" of the
Diaspora Yeshiva
The Torah Portion for
G-d-fearingness
(Deuteronomy
10)
And now, Israel - what does the L-rd your G-d desire of you but to fear the
L-rd your G-d, to follow all His ways and to love and serve the L-rd your
G-d with all your hear and all your soul. To keep the commandments of the
L-rd and His laws which I am commanding you today for your benefit. For to
the L-rd, your G-d belong the Heavens and the
heaven's heavens, the earth and all that is contained therein. Yet only
your forefathers did the L-rd desire to love and He chose their seed after
them. You from all the nations, as it is this day.
Circumcise the
foreskin of your heart and stiffen not your necks any more, for the L-rd
your G-d, He is the G-d of G-ds and the Master of
masters, a Great G-d, mighty and awesome who shows no favor and accepts no
bribe. He carries out justice for the orphan and widow and loves the
stranger, giving him bread and raiment. Yes, you should also love the
stranger, giving him bread and raiment. Yes, you should also love the
stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
You shall fear
the L-rd your G-d. Serve Him and cling to Him and swear by His Name. He is
your glory and He is your G-d who has done for you these great and awesome
deeds which you have seen with your own eyes. With 70 souls did your
fathers go down to Egypt and now the L-rd your
G-d has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude. Yes, you should
love the L-rd your G-d, your G-d and keep His charge, His laws, His
judgment and commands for all time. And you must know this day that I speak
not to your children, who have not known and have not seen the chastisement
of the L-rd, your G-d His greatness, His mighty hand and outstretched arm.
His signs and His deeds He did to the army of Egypt, their horses and
chariots, for He had the waters of the Red Sea overflow them as they
pursued after you and the L-rd destroyed them to this day. And all He has
done for you in the wilderness on the way to this place. And what he did to
Datan and Aviram, sons
of Eliav, son of Reuben, that
the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up and their households and
their tents and all the living substance at their feet in the midst of all Israel. For it is your eyes
that have seen all the great deeds that the L-rd has carried out.
Yes, you
should guard all the commandments that I command you today, in order that
you be strong and come to possess the land which
you are crossing over to possess. And in order that you last many days upon
the land which the L-rd swore to give to your fathers, to them and to their
seed; a land flowing with milk and honey.
|
