Bechukosai

The Sedra night well be seen as one of the most ominous in the Torah. A contract is spelled out between G-d and the Jewish people. Verse 1........

" If in my statutes you walk and my Mitzvos (commandments) you will guard and keep and do them."

The key word here is of course one of the smallest in the language with the biggest implication, "if". The Torah then goes on to promise wonderful things to a Jewish people secure in their land. In Verse 14 we read the converse how the non-keeping of the Torah will produce defeat, destruction and expulsion.

In verse 32 the Torah states........

" And I will desolate the land so that your enemies who live there will be astonished."

Rashi says on this verse, that this will be a kindness. Your enemies will not be able to enjoy their conquest and settlement of your land as it will now be and remain desolate.

In his book "The innocents abroad" Mark Twain wrote how in his travels from Lebanon to Tiberias, he saw only one tree growing.

" There is not a solitary village throughout it's whole extent - nor for thirty miles in either direction. There are two or three small clusters of Bedouin tents but not a single permanent habitation. One may ride ten miles, hereabout, and not see ten human beings.

To this region one of the prophecies is applied........

And I will desolate the land so that your enemies who live there will be astonished"

In verse 42, in the middle of the Torah's prediction of punishment the theme abruptly changes.

"And I will remember my covenant with Jacob and even my covenant with Isaac and even my covenant with Abraham I will remember, and the land I will remember."

Rabbi Zalman Serotskin explains this verse based on the comment of Ra hat this verse hints at the "in gathering" of the Jewish people at the end of the exile.

He points out that the order of the verse is reversed. Normally we first refer to Abraham then Isaac then Jacob. Each of the three Avos (patriarchs) of the Jews focused one characteristic in their service of G-d. Abraham was Kindness. His mission was to introduce the world to belief in G-d and he achieved it through kindness. Isaac was able to build on this and to introduce people to the idea of self sacrifice as a vehicle to come close to G-d. Jacob built on that and was able to introduce Torah as the vehicle.

Our verse in reverse is telling the people that the exile will certainly end if they concentrate on Torah and even if they concentrate just on self sacrifice and even if only kindness.

He then goes onto report a question which was sent to him by a Rabbi in Brooklyn. This Rabbi wanted to take the idea one step further. There is a fourth element in the verse " And the land I will remember".

Reb Zalaman Serotskin agrees that even if the first three elements are missing the exile could still end. He then cites a verse from Psalms to support this. However he adds the first three all have the words " And even" in front of them. This is not true when it mentions the land. If the Jewish people are bereft of Love of Torah, self sacrifice for G-d and kindness: love of the land of their fathers could be enough. But only as a first stage. To expand an initial settlement into a permanent one they would have to marry their love of the land to one of the other three elements.

A visit to the area reported on by Mark Twain today displays Israel's most beautiful scenery with forests and blossoming towns. To keep it so the people must remember their history and the beginning words of the Sedra.