5783/2023

In the beginning of Parashat BeChukotai, Hashem promises

Bnei Yisrael tremendous blessings if they listen to him and

follow in his ways. In one of these blessings, Hashem adds a

ופניתי אליכם והפריתי אתכם והרביתי אתכם” :supplement peculiar

אתכם את־בריתי והקימתי,” “I will look favorable upon you, and make

you fertile and multiply you; and I will keep My covenant with

you” (VaYikra 26:9). What is the purpose of the ending of that

Pasuk? Did we think that Hashem wouldn’t keep His Brit with

us?

Rav Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg offers a beautiful

explanation in his HaKetav VeHaKabalah. Until now, says Rav

Mecklenburg, Bnei Yisrael have received rewards partially

because of the Zechut of the Avot and the Brit that Hashem

made with them. In that Brit, Hashem promised the Avot that if

they teach their children in Hashem’s ways and spread the

knowledge of Hashem to other nations, Hashem will make their

children prosperous. Now, however, Bnei Yisrael didn’t need to

rely on the Brit that Hashem made with the Avot. Hashem has

now established a personal relationship with Bnei Yisrael,

promising to make them prosperous if they follow the Torah.

Starting now, the relationship that Bnei Yisrael will have with

Hashem will be even more special and personal because

Hashem made a covenant with them.

Rav Shimshon Rephael Hirsch offers another

explanation. Rav Hirsch makes an interesting connection

between the beginning of the Pasuk promising that Bnei Yisrael

will be numerous and the end promising that Hashem will keep

His Brit with Bnei Yisrael. Oftentimes, when a nation becomes

numerous throughout a land, they become increasingly

unprincipled. They lose their moral compass; they lose that

which made that nation so great and prosperous in the first

place. This happens because they become more competitive.

They feel as though it is a 0-sum game and that they must be

prosperous at someone else’s expense, lest they do not prosper

at all. Here, Hashem promises that this will not happen with

the Berachot in our Parashah. There will be more people and

they will be numerous across the land but they will not lose

their morals because Hashem promised, “אתכם את־בריתי והקימתי,“

“I will keep My covenant with you” (ibid.). When you keep

Hashem’s Brit and you live a life of “תלכו אם־בחקתי,” “If you follow

My laws” (VaYikra 26:3), every new person is not a threat to

your existence, but a greater opportunity to make your bond

with Hashem even stronger. When serving Hashem is the goal,

we remember that we are on the same team and with each new

member, our team only gets stronger.