Rabbi Daniel: Thoughts on Torah

Dear friends,

The first aliyah of the third triennial is the most difficult part of the Torah portion.  It launches right into the infamous curses.  Each curse is actually a very specific action that a person might take or might not take, but what is very interesting is the last of the curses.  Verse 26 of chapter 27 reads:

אָר֗וּר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹא־יָקִ֛ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמַ֥ר כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן׃ {פ}

Cursed be whoever will not uphold the terms of this Teaching and observe them.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

The 13th century Spanish commentator Ramban brings up how this curse is different from the others. 

In my opinion this “acceptance” requires that one avow the commandments in his heart and consider them as the truth, believe 

consider them as the truth, believe that he who observes them will be requited with the best of rewards and he who transgresses them will be punished, and if someone denies any of them, or considers it annulled forever he will be cursed. However, if one transgressed any commandment, such as eating swine or some abominable thing because of his desire, or he did not make a Booth or take the palm-branch [on the Festival of Tabernacles] because of laziness, he is not included within this ban, for Scripture did not say “who does not perform the words of this Law” but it states that ‘confirms’ not the words of this Law to do them..."    So after a series of curses directing us in the realm of behavior this final curse, according to Ramban, is only asking us to believe in the authority of God and Torah and the concept of reward and punishment.  I was speaking with a friend the other day about how when a person acts like a mensch, and acts in a Divine way, does their motivation really matter? 

and acts in a Divine way, does their motivation really matter? Yet I would argue it is interesting to think about the source or origin of our morality and ethics.

What is the practical significance of thinking through whether one is actually motivated by a, 'A fear of heaven."  Does God know if we are doubting Divine authority?  Is one rebelling against Torah if they consciously act counter to a Torah precept?  Is Judaism all or nothing?  What am I asking forgiveness for if I feel that I have come to all my decisions with intention and understanding of what I am doing and before whom I stand?  These and more, are questions we wrestle over the High Holidays.  I invite you into the arena to explore and discover. 

-  Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Daniel