From: CFRQC@CUNYVM.BITNET (ToraByte)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: A Byte Of Torah I,XLV Vezos HaBerachah
Date: 14 Oct 92 05:19:31 GMT
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center


  ||                                                                      ||
 ----                     V E Z O S  H A B E R A C H A H                 ----
|    |                                                                  |    |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     A                                   BS"D
   Volume I                       B Y T E     The Electronic
     Issue XLV                      O F          Torah Weekly
                                 T O R A H
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|    |                                                                  |    |
 ----                    Editor : Zev S. Itzkowitz                       ----
  ||                                                                      ||


                           Dvar Torah of the Week
                           ----------------------

"Even though nations are loved, all the holy ones are in Your hand; and they
follow Your footsteps, (and) they carry Your words. Moses commanded to us the
Torah ..." (Deuteronomy 33:3-4)

 These verses are mystifying. Who are the "holy ones that are in your hand"?
This is referring to the Children of Israel, "for the whole nation is holy"
(Numbers 16:3), whom are sheltered in Hashem's hands (Ramban, Tur).
 What does it mean that the Children of Israel followed Hashem's footsteps?
The Children of Israel "followed" Hashem into the wilderness without
worrying about going hungry or being without water, or encountering snakes
and scorpions (Ramban). This fact is repeated to us by the Prophet Jeremiah
who prophesied, "So says Hashem: I remember for your sake, the kindness of
your youth, the love of your bridal days, how you followed Me into the
wilderness in an unsown land." (Jeremiah 2:2).
 What does it mean that "they carry Your words"? The Children of Israel
carry Hashem's words upon their lips and constantly go over them (Ramban).
These are the words which Moses gave over to them from Hashem, i.e. the Bible,
and commanded them to follow its laws.


                            Midrash of the Week
                            -------------------

"And he said: Hashem came from Sinai, and He shone forth to them from Seir
(Esau) and made an appearance from Mount Paran (Ishmael)..." (Deuteronomy 33:2)

 Before Hashem gave the Laws of the Bible to the Children of Israel at Mount
Sinai, He first offered them to the other descendents of Avraham, and the
world. Hashem went first to the children of Ishmael and offered the Laws to
them. They asked, 'What is in the Laws?' Hashem answered, 'It is written,
you cannot steal.' They answered back, 'Sorry, that is our way of life, we
cannot accept them.' Hashem then went to the children of Esau and offered the
Laws to them. They asked, 'What is in the Laws?' Hashem answered them, 'It
is written, you cannot murder.' They answered back, 'Sorry, that is our way
of life, we cannot accept them.' Hashem then went to the other nations of the
world, but they too declined for various reasons. Finally, He offered the
Laws to the Children of Israel, and they answered Him, 'We will do and we
will hear.' (Midrash Tanchuma)

This issue will be the last of the first volume of A Byte Of Torah. The second
volume, will, b'ezrat Hashem, start to come out with Bereishis. There will be
a few minor changes as well as a few surprises. Watch as details unfold.
Have a Chag Kasher VeSameach!!

Please direct any comments, questions, etc. back to me here at CFRQC@CUNYVM,
or on internet CFRQC@cunyvm.cuny.edu. Please pass it on to a friend. If you
want to subscribe, please send e-mail to listserv@israel.nysernet.org
with the msg: SUB bytetorah <first name> <last name>.  --Zev Itzkowitz
-------
                       ____________         ___*___
    T o  B o l d l y  (____________)       (_______)  G o  W h e r e  N o
       Y i d  H a s               \\      //   v        G o n e  B e f o r e
                                   \\    //
            /////                ___\\__//_
       *       //               (__________}                           *
      * *      //         // //                                       * *
   * * * * *  ///////// // // /////// //////// /// /// /// //////  * * * * *
    *     *          // // //      //       //  //  //  //   //     *     *
   * * * * *         //            /        //  // //  //    ///   * * * * *
      * *            //                     //  ////  //      //      * *
       *         /////                ///////// ///////       /        *
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish