Every word of Torah is perfect, but this parasha has some particularly lines and messages. Primarily, this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Vaetchanan, we hear the messages Moshe tells to the Nation of Israel how to conduct themselves as they are about to enter the Land of Israel, both in their relationship to God and their relationships with foreign nations. To the former point, we hear the famous line of the Shema and the first paragraph thereof, and many significant lines about how one should relate to foreign influences personally and politically.
The most iconic passage in Parashat Vaetchanan is the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), which serves as a foundational statement of Jewish faith. It proclaims, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” The Shema is an unwavering declaration of monotheism, emphasizing the absolute commitment to God as the one and only Divine entity. Notably, it not only suggests, but commands the Torah to be followed with love, emphasizing the enduring power of loving God more than revering him later in the parasha.
In reciting the Shema twice daily, Jews reaffirm their unique identity and unwavering devotion to God, guarding against the allure of idol worship and foreign influences, and instead thinking and speaking of God from waking up until falling asleep.
In contrast to this, the parasha provides extensive warnings against idol worship, or the more all encompassing “avodah zara” (foreign worship / foreign service). In Deuteronomy 4:15-18, Moses explicitly prohibits making any image or representation of God, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a pure and spiritual connection with the Divine. There are commandments to smash, burn or otherwise destroy anything associated with idolatry, including holy sites and even trees associated with paganism. Throughout, he mocks the idea of putting something material and finite before God who is infinite and omnipotent. Foolish as it may be, people always have an inclination to look at other sources, especially money nowadays, or as Parashat Vaetchanan highlights, astrology and astronomy instead of the Creator of it all.
Moreover, the parasha prohibits making covenants, giving gifts, or allowing non-Jews to live in the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 7:3-4 sternly warns against intermarriage with other nations, as it will lead to turning away from God and embracing foreign beliefs and customs. In fact, it is from this section where we see that Judaism is inherited via matrilineal descent; both men and women are prohibited from intermarrying, but it only specifies that the men will be turned away from God. As the Torah frequently notes, women may innately have a stronger spiritual compass and can pass on a Jewish identity to their children, but mixing foreign cultures will inevitably lead to the generations going astray.
While the parasha strictly forbids alliances and intermarriage, it allows for business dealings and trade with foreign nations. For instance, in Deuteronomy 20:10-15, Moses outlines the rules of engagement during wartime, allowing Israel to engage in business-like relationships with surrounding nations, and foreign trade was even used in the construction of the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) with cedar from Lebanon.
This approach strikes a balance between maintaining Jewish distinctiveness and engaging in economic and strategic interactions with other nations without assimilation or idol worship. This parasha notes Jews are not the chosen people because they are the largest, most powerful nation, on the contrary that that the Jews are the smallest of the nations, but because of their enduring covenant. It will always be tempting to make deals and mix with other cultures for goods and security, but our strength only comes from being close to God, and if that is thrown out we will be washed away, as has been seen time and time again throughout history.
Parashat Vaetchanan carries profound relevance in contemporary Jewish life. In an increasingly interconnected world, where foreign influences and cultures abound, it serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving Jewish identity and values. While we engage in global interactions, we must remain vigilant in upholding our faith and commitment to God, avoiding assimilation into foreign beliefs or practices. While these threats may no longer be as obviously tied to idolatry, other destructive forces like an obsession with material gain, wasting time on trends, and immodest behavior only focuses on the self, not one’s community and certainly not the Torah. This is no way for a Jewish community to survive; it takes a long time and great effort to build a culture and maintain a relationship with the Torah, but it is very easy to throw it away for yourself and for your future generations.
Parashat Vaetchanan teaches us the significance of embracing our unique Jewish identity amidst foreign influences. The Shema serves as a powerful declaration of our faith, reaffirming our commitment to the one and only God as a positive commandment. The strict prohibitions against intermarriage and alliances with foreign nations highlight the need to safeguard our spiritual connection to the Divine. Of course, avoiding outside influence only works when there is adherence to something positive, so we see the commandment to love the Torah precedes the distancing from other cultural and spiritual forces.
By adhering to these teachings, we can navigate the complexities of the modern world while upholding our core Jewish values and traditions. As we recite the Shema and study Parashat Vaetchanan, may we be inspired to strengthen our faith, preserve our unique identity, and deepen our connection with God in all aspects of our lives.
