Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: A Byte Of Torah I,XXXVIII Re'eih
From: ToraByte <CFRQC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Wednesday, 26 Aug 1992 23:37:49 EDT
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

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                                     A                                   BS"D
   Volume I                       B Y T E     The Electronic
     Issue XXXVIII                  O F          Torah Weekly
                                 T O R A H
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 ----                    Editor : Zev S. Itzkowitz                       ----
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                           Dvar Torah of the Week
                           ----------------------

"You shall utterly destroy all the places, that were worshiped there by the
nations, towards their gods, that you are inheriting from them; on the high
mountains, and on the hills, and under every leafy tree. And you shall
overthrow their altars, and break their pillers, and their Asheira's you
shall burn with fire, and the idols of their gods you shall chop down, and
you shall obliterate their names from that place. Do not do this towards
Hashem your G-d." (Deutoronomy 12:2-4)

 These verses are mystifying. What does it mean to 'utterly destory'? The
first action to be taken is to obliterate the presence of the idol worship.
Afterwards, the area must be totally uprooted (Rashi). Just one of these
actions will not suffice (Or HaChayim).
 What is an Asheira? Asheira is a tree that was used as idol
worship (Ibn Ezra).
 What does the Bible mean by, "Do not do this towards Hashem your G-d"?
This verse can have three possible meanings, depending upon which part of
the previous verse, this verse is refering. One, one should not erase or
destroy Hashem's name (Baal HaTurim, Rashi). Two, one should not destroy
the Alter (Rashi), or anything that is associated with serving Hashem (R.
Aryeh Kaplan). Three, one may not offer up sacrifices unto Hashem at any
place that one chooses, rather only in the place that Hashem chooses, i.e.
the Holy Temple or Tabernacle (Rashi, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, Rabbeinu Bachya).


                             Mussar of the Week
                             ------------------

"And you shall eat there before Hashem your G-d, and you will rejoice in
all that you put your hand, you and your household, through which Hashem
your G-d will bless you." (Deutoronomy 12:7)

 This verse is puzzling. In what way are we supposed to rejoice when
serving Hashem? We are supposed to serve Hashem, as one who works for a
person that one loves (Sephoreno). Meaning, a person should have the
intensity, concentration, commitment and joy when serving Hashem, as a
person has when serving his or her beloved.

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
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