Covenantal Protection

Parshat Devarim is always read before Tisha B’Av. That is no coincidence.

The Book of Devarim is Moshe’s final address to the new generation preparing to enter the Land of Israel. Looking back over the forty years in the wilderness, his opening message is a warning: When we, the children of Israel, drift from our covenant with God, we lose the protection that only He can provide.

That is why, after the sin of the spies, the people failed in their attempt to conquer the land. Realizing their mistake, they tried to enter Israel anyway. But God told Moshe, “Do not tell them to go up, for I am not among them.” Without God’s presence, they were defeated.

The Vilna Gaon explains that the Jewish people are unlike every other nation. Other nations have a natural place in history. We do not. Our place in the world is supernatural. When God withdraws His protection, history simply takes its natural course. But when we remain faithful to the covenant, we flourish against all odds.

That is why Devarim is always read before Tisha B’Av.

Tisha B’Av is our national day of mourning for the many calamities that have befallen us at the hand of our enemies. National mourning is different from personal mourning. Personal mourning focuses on honoring those we have lost. National mourning calls for teshuvah—a return to the covenant, which is ultimately, our protection from our enemies.

Moshe had only forty years of Jewish history from which to draw his lesson. We have had more than three thousand. One would hope we have learned this lesson.

On Tisha B’Av, I will be joined by Andrea Ballas former VP of communications for CBS/Paramount for a screening of Tragic Awakening and a post-screening discussion about antisemitism in the movie industry and its ramifications for American Jewry.  Register HERE