Va'eschanan
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha the first parsha of Keriyas Shema. One of the mitzvoth brought in this parsha is the mitzvah which states (Chapter 6, Pasuk 7), Ve’Shinantam Levanecha, and you shall teach your children. Rashi teaches that we learn from the word Ve’Shinantam, Lashon chidud hu, sheyihyu mechudadim b’ficha. Rashi brings from the Sifri that the idea is not to just teach, but rather that the words of Torah should be “sharp” in your mouth. If someone asks you a question, you shouldn’t hesitate and you should be able to answer immediately. Additionally, Rashi brings the same Medrash which teaches that the children referred to in the pasuk are your students, Levanecha, Eilu HaTalmidim. The mitzvah in this pasuk is to know the Torah well in order to teach your students properly.
The second parsha in Keriyas Shema is brought in next week’s parsha. We have a similar mitzvah of Talmud Torah in that parsha where the Torah states (Chapter 11, Pasuk 19), Ve’Limadetem Osam, and you shall teach them. Here Rashi brings the Medrash which states that as soon as one’s son is able to speak, the father should teach him Torah, specifically the pasuk Torah Tzivah Lanu Moshe. And the Medrash goes on and says that the father should speak with his son in Lashon Hakodesh and teach him Torah.
We have two parshiyot of Keriyas Shema with the mitzvah of Talmud Torah. Why does Rashi learn the first mitzvah in our parsha is referring to the Rebbe teaching his students, and the second parsha is referring to the mitzvah of the father to his son?
The Ohr Gedalyahu asks this question and answers in the following manner. The Mishnah in Berachos 13A teaches that the reason we read the parsha of Keriyas Shema in our parsha before the parsha in Eikev is because one must first accept upon himself Ohl Malchus Shamayim, the yolk of heaven, and only then can he accept upon himself Ohl Mitzvoth, the burden of accepting the mitzvoth of Hashem. And even though the statement of Ohl Malchus Shamayim is mainly included in the very first pasuk in the parsha, Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad, the entire section is considered as being one of accepting the yolk of heaven. As an illustration of this point, Rabbeinu Yonah teaches in Sha’arei Teshuvah that the mitzvoth of Tefillin and Mezuzah are particularly significant as a result of being included the parsha of Ohl Malchus Shamayim.
Therefore, the mitzvah of Talmud Torah brought in the section of Shema which is Ohl Malchus Shamayim needs to reflect this component as well. And Rashi explains that this mitzvah is more than teaching one’s son Torah. This mitzvah expresses the need to spread Torah far and wide. This mitzvah is the obligation of having students and spreading the tradition of Torah from Sinai. This mitzvah reflects the need to have yeshivas and develop talmidim who themselves will continue the tradition of Torah as being the basis of Jewish life.
This is also why the term Ve’shinantam is used and Rashi, quoting the Medrash, teaches that it means to be sharp in Torah and be able to answer immediately. This is a mitzvah which is not for everyone, but rather for those who dedicate themselves to spreading Torah. And this is also why this first parsha is mentioned in the singular. This level is not possible for all.
The second parsha is the mitzvah and obligation of every father to teach his son Torah. This is the section of Ohl Mitzvoth and this section is brought in the plural indicating it is necessary for all. Every father must speak to his son in Lashon Hakodesh and teach him Torah. But the word used in teaching he mitzvah is Ve’Limadetem. He doesn’t have to be so sharp that he can answer without hesitation. That is only in the first section in our parsha. And that is part of Kabalas Ohl Malchus Shamayim; establishing yeshivas and having students in order to maintain the tradition of Torah given to us by Gd at Har Sinai.
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