Vaetchanan Day 1:
1st #RashiToday commentary on Vaetchanan (Day 1) has 2 commentaries on this usual (opening) title word: (1) request for a free gift (2) a form of prayer. Based on a bunch of questions, Rebbe sees them as 2 totally different interpretations, the 1st as a request, not a prayer. Rebbe bases it on difference btwn similar Sifri vs Midrash Raba sources: Midrash Raba sees free gift request as a form of prayer, Sifri divides the two. Rebbe sees Sifri as prayer comes from & based in supplicant; favor (while requested by supplicant) is based solely on high.
Greatness = Goodness. #RashiToday (Vaetchanan Day 1)
Vaetchanan Day 2:
Sometimes its the verses #RashiToday does NOT comment on! In today’s daily study (Vaetchanan Day 2) Rashi says nothing about a great classic verse (so important to AlterRebbe!) “Vyadayta HaYom” or the verse “uvKashtem Mshom” – but Rashi’s focus is simple basic interpretation, not its mystical, life-relevant or in-depth meaning. Having said that, Rashi is also known for “Yaynah Shel Torah” (the wine of Torah, perhaps a nod to the legend of Rashi as a vintner) the hidden riches couched within his simple & basic explanations of the verses. #RashiToday
Vaetchanan Day 3:
Moshe (eagerly!) designated 3 cities of refuge on the east side of the Jordan River before his passing, and #RashiToday (Vaetchanan Day 3) quotes Talmud Makkot: even as he knew they would only go into effect once the 3 refuge cities in Israel proper would be designated, still Moshe was eager to perform whatever part of the Mitzvah he could (even if not yet relevant, or incomplete as of yet). As #RashiToday describes it: “he put his heart to this!” Here’s an instance of a glimpse into Moshe’s thinking/feeling. >
Moshe’s eagerness in #RashiToday (Vaetchanan Day 3) for an incomplete Mitzvah, but still to strive to do as much of it as we can, calls to mind this very unusual story of my father & a half-Mitzvah: https://shabboshouse.org/mendels-messages/half-tefillin-in-a-yurt/
Sifsei Chachomim explains #RashiToday based on the switch of tenses, Az = then, Yavdil = designate in future – Moshe was dealing with this tension between now & later. Indeed, some are paralyzed or blinded by future, Moshe acted on whatever he could do now, for the future.
Another Midrashic insight to this verse #RashiToday doesn’t quote but DaasZekanim does: Moshe especially empathized with Cities of Refuge as it deals with manslaughter & he himself had the incident with the Egyptian taskmaster. We feel more for what we personally experienced.
Vaetchanan Day 4:
In Vaetchanan (Day 4) #RashiToday says that 2 of the 10 Commandments were released earlier at “Marah” (the place of Bitter Water sweetened with a wood): the mitzvot of Shabbos & honoring Parents. (Interestingly this is different from Rashi in Beshalach re Marah). For both of these Mitzvot (adjacent to each other, #’s 4&5 in 10 Commandment listing) Second Tablets verses single them out to say: “as G-d (already) commanded you.”
#RashiToday (Vaetchanan Day 4) says, this refers to them being commanded at Marah. Mitzvot at Marah (which may include more than these 2) are described in Beshalach verse as “Chok & Mishpat”. Generally Chok = suprarational, more divine; Mishpat = rational, more human. As Daas Zekanim quotes Mechilta here: Honoring Parents is a Chok that’s also a Mishpat. Rebbe emphasized all Mitzvot (regardless of their Chok vs. Mishpat axis) be best observed with both approaches. Perhaps Shabbat & Honoring Parents are great examples of doing it both religiously & personally, with both divine & human focus, rationally & transcending logic.
Shabbat & Honoring Parents are adjacent neighbors in the 10 Commandments (& both on the between Man & G-d side of the Tablets) in both #Yitro & #Vaetchanan, they share a verse in #Kedoshim, & both are observed by tangible expressions of honor (for parents or Shabbat).
And it can be said that both Shabbat & Honoring Parents help us acknowledge our source, recognize that we & our accomplishments are not entirely self-made, both these mitzvot instill & express gratitude & awareness of how we got here & what we’re here for.
Vaetchanan Day 5:
#RashiToday (Vaetchanan Day 5) explains the Jews asking Moses to share Torah instead of directly from G-d to be “as feminine form”. Rebbe explains it as better adaptive fitting for needs of Jewish people, the term weakness instead as a softer accessibility & connection.
Vaetchanan Day 6:
Of the 4 scrolls/texts inside Tefillin, 2 are from Parsha Bo at Exodus, 2 are from Vaetchanan & EIkev just b4 entry to land of Israel. Rebbe juxtaposes subtle language differences of #Tefillin between then & uses it to explain #RashiToday Vaetchanan Day 6 in Shema & how this difference (including are Tefillin one unit? or do hand & head each play a separate role?) reflects shift whether or not Moshe would lead the Jews into Israel or not, & difference in approach that represents. It’s a deep dive into Tefillin & wording in #RashiToday!
“And you shall teach your children” classic line from the Shema in Vaetchanan Day 6 – #RashiToday interprets children as students. Rashi, the literalist, master of the simple meaning!? Often Rashi gives two explanations of the verse but here only one, the non-literal! Rebbe explains that #RashiToday recognizes & addresses here the everyday reality of children who are taught mostly by their teachers. Therefore Rashi goes to great lengths (even quoting 3 more supportive verses) to say that students are universally referred to as children.
Vaetachanan Day 7:
Last #RashiToday in Vaetchanan (Day 7) is on the final 2 words of the Parsha: “Today, to do it!” upon which Rashi comments, “tomorrow, in the world to come, to take the reward.” Rebbe notes Rashi switches Talmudic source from “receives” to “takes”: לקבל vs. ליטול one of the takeaway insights is how even World-to-Come isn’t passive receiving reward but active taking. There’s work for us to to do then, too! Even perfect utopian environments with idyllic conditions require us to take action, be engaged, do our part. #RashiToday Vaetchanan Day 7.