๐ Introduction
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื teaches us about divine reciprocity and the mutual love between the Holy One, blessed be He and the people of Israel. This lesson reveals how our relationship with God is based on exchange and mutual recognition, particularly during the month of Elul.
Source: Teaching by ืืืจืฉื ืืืื on Parashat Ki Tavo - The beauty of verses about divine reciprocity
๐ The Context: The Month of Elul
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื immerses us in the atmosphere of the month of Elul, whose initials form "ืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืื" (Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li - "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine").
The Spirit of Elul
The month of Elul is characterized by this atmosphere of mutual approach between the people of Israel and the Holy One, blessed be He, thus preparing for the Days of Awe.
- ๐ค Acronym of Elul: ืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืื - Reciprocal relationships
- ๐ Mutual love: Like in a harmonious couple
- โ๏ธ Necessary balance: No one-way relationship
- ๐ Divine model: The Holy One teaches us reciprocity
๐ The Mysterious Verse: "You Made Say... He Made You Say"
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื explores a fascinating verse from our parashah that expresses this divine reciprocity in an enigmatic way.
The Verse in Question
"ืืช ื' ืืืืจืช ืืืื ืืืืืช ืื ืืืืืื... ืื' ืืืืืจื ืืืื ืืืืืช ืื ืืขื ืกืืืื"
"You have made the Lord say today... and the Lord has made you say today..."
- โ Grammatical mystery: What do these expressions "ืืืืจืช" and "ืืืืืจื" mean?
- ๐ Rashi perplexed: "There is no other example in all Scripture"
- ๐ญ Attempts at explanation: Separation, distinction, adornment
- ๐ฏ The true meaning: Mutual acceptance and reciprocal recognition
Onkelos translates as "ืืืืื" - to make a special unit, like an elite brigade in the army.
๐ค The Ramban's Explanation: Mutual Acceptance
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื cites the Ramban's explanation which beautifully illuminates this verse.
The Ramban's Translation
"You have accepted upon yourselves..." and "I accept upon Myself..." - A contractual relationship of mutual love.
- ๐ Mutual commitment: Like a spiritual marriage contract
- ๐ You chose Me: Among all the gods of the world
- ๐ I chose you: Among all the peoples of the earth
- โค๏ธ Divine romance: "The most beautiful romance that exists in the world"
- ๐ Reciprocal relations: Essential condition for marital happiness
"This is the most beautiful romantic story that exists in the world, between the Holy One, blessed be He and His Shekhinah, between the Holy One, blessed be He and the Community of Israel."
๐ The Tefillin of the Holy One, Blessed Be He
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื brings magnificent proof of this reciprocity through the Talmudic teaching about divine tefillin.
The Gemara's Question
In our tefillin: "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One"
In the divine tefillin: "Who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth?"
- ๐ Our tefillin: We proclaim His unity
- โจ His tefillin: He proclaims our uniqueness
- ๐ญ Mutual pride: We boast about each other
- ๐ Perfect reciprocity: Each honors the other
"We boast about Him that He is One, and He also boasts about us."
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Honoring Parents: A Perfect Example
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื reveals a hidden dimension of the commandments about honoring parents.
Two Seemingly Contradictory Commandments
In the Ten Commandments: "Honor your father and mother" (father first)
In Bechukotai: "Each shall revere his mother and father" (mother first)
- โ๏ธ Family balance: Honor to father, reverence toward mother
- ๐ค Hidden level: Who are really "father and mother"?
- ๐ Mystical level: The Holy One, blessed be He and the Community of Israel
- ๐ Divine reciprocity: "I too accept to honor you"
The Holy One, blessed be He says: "I agree with you that I too must honor you, as you honor Me."
๐ "Return to Me and I Will Return to You"
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื explores the touching dialogue at the end of Megillat Eichah which perfectly illustrates this reciprocity.
The Dialogue of Teshuvah
The people of Israel: "Bring us back to You and we will return"
The Holy One, blessed be He: "Return to Me and I will return to you"
- ๐ค Shared initiative: Who takes the first step?
- ๐ช Question of strength: "Where do we have the strength for this?"
- โค๏ธ Divine help: "Help us first to return"
- ๐ Constant reciprocity: Mutual and simultaneous movement
๐น The Song of Songs: Two Verses, Two Perspectives
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื reveals the beauty of two verses from the Song of Songs that express this reciprocity.
Two Declarations of Love
Verse 1: "ืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืื" - "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine"
Verse 2: "ืืืื ืื ืืื ื ืื" - "My beloved is mine and I am his"
- ๐
Acronym of Elul: First verse = ืืืื
- ๐ญ Two perspectives: Who starts first?
- ๐ Balanced relationships: Sometimes him, sometimes me
- ๐ Fluidity of love: No rigid hierarchy
๐ณ The Deep Meaning of ืืืืืจ
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื reveals the fascinating etymology of the mysterious word from the verse.
ืืืืจ = The Treetop
In Hebrew, ืืืืจ designates the highest part of the tree, its crown, its summit.
- ๐ณ Mutual elevation: "You have placed the Holy One above all worlds"
- ๐ Supreme position: "ืขืืืื ืขื ืื ืืืืืื" - Above all nations
- ๐ Divine adornment: "ืืชืืืื ืืืฉื ืืืชืคืืจืช" - For glory and beauty
- ๐ Coherence of explanations: Separation, elevation and adornment unite
"One who is in a supreme position is naturally separated and distinguished from everything below him."
๐๏ธ The Key to Reciprocity: Nullifying the Ego
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื reveals the practical secret to activating this divine reciprocity.
The Secret of "ืืขื ืืช ืืืืจืช"
In the parashah: "You shall answer and say" - but no one asked you a question! ืืขื ืืช comes from ืขื ื = to make oneself humble.
- ๐ฏ Necessary first step: It's always we who must begin
- ๐ Breaking the ego: "All this me me me..."
- ๐ Total gift: "All my Self for my beloved"
- โก Immediate reaction: "Then immediately - and my beloved is mine"
- ๐ Superior state: "Grazing together among the roses"
"As soon as I nullify my ego, as I nullify my Self before my beloved, then I immediately obtain: and my beloved is mine."
๐ฐ The Messianic Vision
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื concludes with the vision of the future where this reciprocity will reach its perfection.
- ๐ค Divine collaboration: "Hand in hand with the Holy One, blessed be He"
- ๐ The Messiah King: "The Messiah King at our head"
- ๐๏ธ Rebuilding the Temple: "In the building of the Bet HaMikdash"
- โฐ Speedily in our days: "ืืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืืื"
๐ Rabbi Hanania's Conclusion
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื ends with Rabbi Hanania's teaching about the abundance of Torah.
"The Holy One, blessed be He wanted to make the people of Israel meritorious, therefore He multiplied the Torah and commandments for them."
- ๐ Divine gift: More Torah = more merit
- ๐ Divine will: To make us succeed
- ๐ Multiplication of opportunities: Each mitzvah = one more chance
- โค๏ธ Love manifested: Through the abundance of precepts
๐ฏ To Remember: Essential teachings of ืืืจืฉื ืืืื
- Divine reciprocity: Our relationship with God is mutual
- Balanced love: Like in a harmonious couple
- Nullifying the ego: Prerequisite for reciprocity
- Human initiative: We must take the first step
- Mutual elevation: We lift each other up
- Messianic vision: Perfect collaboration to come
1. Nullifying the Ego
Practice daily "ืืขื ืืช" - make yourself humble. Before each prayer, nullify your ego before the Divine.
2. Reciprocity in Marriage
Apply the divine lesson: "There is no such thing as one spouse respecting the other without reciprocity". Balance your relationships.
3. Mutual Pride
Like in the divine tefillin, boast about God and let Him boast about you through your actions.
4. Spiritual Initiative
Remember: "It's always we who must take the first step". Take initiative in your divine service.
5. Spirit of Elul
Cultivate the atmosphere of "ืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืื" - mutual approach and reciprocal love.
6. Messianic Vision
Prepare to "graze among the roses hand in hand with the Holy One" through your current service.
Transcription of ืืืจืฉื ืืืื's teaching on Parashat Ki Tavo
The essence: Divine reciprocity transforms our relationship with the Creator into eternal romance.