Parshat Ki Savo 5781
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha (Chapter 28 Pasuk 1), V’Hayah Im Shamo’a Tishma B’Kol Hashem Elokecha Lishmor La’asos es Kol Mitzvosav Asher Anochi Metzavcha Hayom U’Nesancha Elyon al Kol Goyei Ha’Aretz. The Torah over these next few pasukim describes a reality in the future when the Jews will be not subservient to the nations of the world, but rather will rule over them. The Torah continues and describes an idyllic life of bracha reserved for Clal Yisrael. All of this bracha, though, is dependent on keeping the mitzvos of Hashem, as this section is sandwiched between V’Hayah Im Shamo’a Tishma in the beginning of the parsha and (Pasuk 13) Ki Sishma at the end of this section.
The Medrash Rabbah on our parsha (7,2) comments on the fact that the Torah repeats the obligation to listen, V’Hayah Im Shamo’a Tishma in the first pasuk in the chapter. The Medrash connects our pasuk to the pasuk in sefer Mishlei (Chapter 8, Pasuk 34), Ashrei Adam Shome’a Li, Lishkod al Dalsosai Yom Yom, Lishmor Mezuzos Pesachai. Fortunate is the one who listens to Me, waiting by My doorway every day, guarding the doorposts of My entrances. Most commentators understand the pasuk to be referring to the idea of daily and constant attendance in shul and the Beis Hamedrash. And the Medrash stresses the notion of Dalsosai, my doors, Deles Lifnim M’Deles. What is the meaning of this idea of one door within another door?
The Sfas Emes teaches that the Medrash is teaching us the notion that one needs to stand outside the door like a poor person begging at the entranceway. And once he manages to grow spiritually and make it through the door, metaphorically speaking, there’s another door closed in front of him. We need to keep plugging away and try to make it through each door, each Deles Lifnim M’Deles. We constantly strive to grow from one level to another, and try to open one door after the next. If Chazal teach (Avos, Chapter 4, Mishnah 21) that Olam Hazeh is a Prozdor, a corridor, before Olam Habah, then there are many doors one needs to pass through on the way. Any only by getting through each Deles Lifnim M’Deles, can he eventually reach the Traklin (the end of the above-mentioned Mishnah).
This is the meaning of the words in our pasuk V’Hayah Im Shamo’a Tishma. You don’t only listen one time; you need to constantly listen and move from level to level. This is also the connection to the words in Mishlei, Lishkod al Dalsosai Yom Yom. You need to stand outside the doorway on a daily basis, Yom Yom, and try to move through the doors and move from level to level. And only by lowering ourselves and acting like a poor person waiting to be let in, can we connect to Hashem and move on and try to open the next door.
The Gemara in Yoma 86B brings a Machlokes Tana’im whether one who did Teshuvah and said vidui for past aveiros needs to say vidui again the following years. The Rambam in Hilchos Teshuvah, Chapter 2, Halacha 8, agrees with the position which states that one should repeat vidui as the pasuk says (Tehillim, Chapter 51, Pasuk 5), V’Chatasi Negdi Tamid; my sin is constantly before me. Rav Tzadok asks, why does one need to repeat the Teshuvah process? If he already fulfilled the mitzvah of Teshuvah, why does he need to repeat it and keep his sins before him?
He answers that, as we explained, one needs to constantly move from one level to the next, Deles Lifnim M’Deles. As a result, the Teshuvah one did in previous years might have sufficed for where he was holding then. But now, after move along the passageway and opening more doors, the person is on a higher level. Presumably, the type of Teshuvah he did then isn’t appropriate for the level he is on now. Therefore, he needs to say vidui again. But not the same vidui he said before, but rather a vidui which reflects his new standing and his new station in life. As one grows in Avodas Hashem, his requirements for change become greater as well. And this is why one needs to have his sin constantly before him; as he moves from door to door, his perception of his sin changes and so does his need to have a greater sense of remorse and regret and cry out even louder for forgiveness.
Good Shabbos
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