Devarim – The Greatest and Most Recurring Obstacle to Redemption

We always read Parshat Devarim on the Shabbos preceding Tisha B’Av. This is obviously fitting as the Parsha begins by discussing the apparently imminent entry of the Jewish people into Eretz Yisrael and how that was subsequently suspended by the sin of the spies, an event that occurred on Tisha B’Av and is the template for our exile and mourning. Yet significantly, these two sections are interrupted by a discussion of the empaneling of many tiers of courts and judges. That discussion begins with the keyword “Eicha”, a word firmly associated with our exile, and Moshe uses it to exclaim, “How can I alone bear your troubles, burdens, and quarrels?!”

Sforno (1:12) explains the order of the presentation, and his words are simple and poignant:

“Moshe recalled this here so that they would remember their sins. For despite Moshe having told them that they would take over the land of Canaan without even having to fight for it, something that would be vastly beneficial and dignifying far beyond anything their property or other matters could have afforded them in the desert, this did not stop them from engaging in quarrelsome behavior and undermining their inter-personal relationships in the process. Due to this interminable quarreling, Moshe even had to appoint a large number of judges over the individuals, requiring every 10 people to have at least one such judge. This could only have been due to a negative disposition.”

The Torah is presenting to us here the greatest obstacle in our path towards redemption. Just as our forefathers first entered the Galut as a result of the strife surrounding the sale of Yosef as a slave, and just as the Talmud explains our current exile by pointing to the strife and spite - the sinat chinam - that brought about the destruction of the Second Temple, these verses tell essentially the same story, explaining how our original march to redemption stopped in its tracks because of our chronic quarrels.

We need not say anything more. Our arguments bring on every kind of difficulty. Our friendship and peacefulness pave the path to Geulah. It is a clear choice and it is time we made it.