Parashas Ki Savo - Strengthening the observance of Torah

This week's Dvar Torah has been sponsored for:
Yeshua: Moshe Efraim ben Bracha
May Hashem grant you Yeshua, Bracha, Hatzlacha, Parnassa, and Briut.
(If you would like to sponsor a Dvar Torah, feel free to email me: SharingTorah@gmail.com)
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In Parashas Ki Savo, we read something which we are already familiar with (from past parashiyos) yet, the Torah still felt it necessary to mention again. As a matter of fact, the remaining parashiyos of Sefer Devarim refers to it: strengthening the observance of Torah.

In the third aliya (which only has four pesukim) says, "This day, Hashem commands you to perform these chukim, mitzvos and mishpatim; And you shall observe and perform them wholeheartedly and with your whole being. Hashem has distinguished you today to be for Him - a treasured people - as He said to you, and to guard all His mitzvos..."

Generally, when something is repeated, it's usually something important. You can't tell your kids enough times to "be careful not to get hurt." A famous example is when a parent tells their kid(s), "Please, if you are going to borrow the car, be careful not to get into an accident." I think it's a very funny statement; almost as if the teenager wants to get into an accident? I don't think they need such a reminder. (Then again, I don't have any teenagers yet, nor do I own a car.)

Another example: I was once putting schach on my sukkah, (standing on a ledge on the third floor) when my wife told me, "Be careful not to fall. --I know I don't have to tell you, but I just feel like I need to say it." I thought about her words, and it was pretty funny because everyone has the habit of telling others to be careful. "Do I really want to fall? She seriously didn't have to mention anything about being careful. Falling wasn't on my list of things to do," I thought. But when someone is so special to you, you make sure to 'remind' them even though they totally don't need the reminding.

In this case, Hashem, our Father, loves us very much because we are His treasured children. This constant 'reminder' of 'being careful' is solely for our sake. By performing these mitzvos, we will be zocheh to all the berachos which are stated in the Torah. They are not, however, the ultimate reward for fulfilling the Torah, nor are the curses the ultimate punishment for its violation.

In the seventh aliyah, Moshe re-emphasizes all the miracles Hashem performed for Bnei Yisroel (in Egypt and in the midbar) to motivate them to keep the Torah. He reminded them about the great signs and wonders Hashem did; for forty years their clothing and shoes did not wear out, etc... The Ramban learns this as a warning, "After forty years of teachings, you should be able to understand that your success lies in the keeping the Torah and mitzvos."

What Moshe Rabbeinu did (when re-emphasizing the goodness Hashem performed for us in order to motivate us to keep His Torah) can be used for other things as well, such as Teshuva. I just heard a shuir by Rav Akiva Tatz saying, "Before a person thinks he's going to sin, he should picture a scenario which will frighten him and which will get him to think that maybe it's not such a good idea to do this aveira. Example: Picture a dog in front of you and if you sin, it will bite you." It's basically a mechanism which will 'remind' you not to sin and what could happen if you do.

By keeping Torah and refraining from sin, we should be zocheh to do complete teshuva, so that Hashem will inscribe and seal us in the good books and grant us all the berachos mentioned in the Torah.

Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso