Parshat Devarim 5778
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the beginning of this week's parsha that Moshe Rabbeinu began teaching Torah to Bnei Yisrael. The pasuk says (Chapter 1, Pasuk 5), Ho'il Moshe Be'er es HaTorah Hazos, Moshe began explaining the Torah. Rashi comments on the word Be'er that Moshe taught the Torah B'Shivi'im Lashon, in seventy languages. The term Be'er seems to indicate that Moshe taught it to them in a clear way that assured they understood him, and therefore Rashi teaches that he taught them in all seventy languages.
The Sfas Emes teaches that the word Be'er which means to explain can also be understood as a wellspring. Moshe Rabbeinu opened up the mouth of the spring, Pi Ha'Be'er, and taught Torah to Am Yisrael. This was a very difficult task, as we saw by Yaakov Avinu who also opened up the mouth of the Be'er, a task which the other shepherds couldn’t do. But this was a special power that Hashem gave to Moshe Rabbeinu, and just like Yaakov, he was able to open the wellsprings of Torah and teach it to Bnei Yisrael.
Parshat Devarim is always read the Shabbos before Tisha B'Av. And as occurs this year, it can even fall out on the ninth of Av itself. What is unique about parshat Devarim that connects it to the Shabbos of Tisha B'Av?
Chazal teach in Avos (Chapter 5, Mishnah 8) that one of the ten things created Erev Shabbos Bein Ha'Shemashos, during the twilight hours as Shabbos was coming in, was the Pi Ha'Be'er, the mouth of the spring. And the pasuk in the Navi Yechezkel teaches (Chapter 46, Pasuk 1), Ko Amar Hashem Elokim Sha'ar He'Chatzer Ha'Penimis HaPoneh Kadim Yihyeh Sagur Sheshes Yemei HaMa'aseh, U'Vayom Ha'Shabbos Yipase'ach. Though the Temple gate to the inner courtyard facing east is closed during the week, on Shabbos it is open. The Sfas Emes learns from here that there is a special opening to the wellsprings of Torah which take place on Shabbos. This is why the Pi Ha'Be'er was created right as Shabbos was coming in. And Moshe Rabbeinu, who had a special connection to Shabbos (as did Yaakov Avinu about whom Chazal teach kept Shabbos), was the great teacher of Torah. And right before he died as he stood on the east bank of the Jordan, B'Ever HaYarden, he reviewed the Torah with Am Yisrael.
The Nesivos Shalom (whose yartzeit was yesterday the seventh of Av) points out that though Tisha B'Av is the most mournful day of the entire year, when it falls on Shabbos it is pushed aside and we may not show any outward signs of mourning. This is an expression of the great love and closeness of Hashem on Shabbos. And we learn from the Sfas Emes that this great love and closeness (B'Ahavah U'Veratzon) is a result of the opening of the wellsprings of Torah which occur every Shabbos. Therefore, it is particularly appropriate that we read about Moshe opening the wellsprings of Torah before Am Yisrael precisely on the Shabbos of Tisha B'Av and even on the ninth of Av itself. Because even when we are in great mourning, we are still close to Hashem and receive great bounty from him on Shabbos when the gates of the Torah and the Pi Ha'Be'er are open.
May we strengthen ourselves in learning Torah and keeping the mitzvos of the Torah and in this merit, may we witness the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash speedily in our time!
Good Shabbos
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