The well-known admonition not to emulate the ways of the gentile nations appears in this week's parasha (Vayikra 18:3-4): "You shall not copy the practices of the land of Egypt where you dwelt, or of the land of Canaan to which I am taking you; nor shall you follow their laws. You shall observe My laws, and keep My ordinances; I am the Lord, your God."
Simply understood, the verses teach us that whenever we live among non-Jews, we should be cautious not to learn their ways or adopt their values. Rashi, however, is bothered by the two superfluous phrases in the verse, and so he understands that God is warning Israel who are now in the desert that the Egyptians of Goshen "where you dwelt" as well as the Canaanites of Israel where "I am taking you," are the most corrupt of the nations. Thus, you must be especially careful not to be influenced by their lifestyle.
The Kli Yakar takes a different approach and explains that these phrases reflect the wrongdoings committed by our people when they were in Egypt and while they were in the desert.
When Yaakov and his sons first come to Egypt and Yosef arranges a dwelling for them, we read (Bereishit 47:27), "Thus Israel settled in the country of Egypt in the region of Goshen?." Many commentaries point out that our forefathers erred when they "settled" in Egypt instead of treating the country as a temporary residence. And their wrongdoing in relation to the land of Canaan was that whenever they faced a difficulty in the desert, they disgraced the Holy Land by saying that they wished to return to Egypt (Bamidbar 14:4) or to die in the wilderness (Shemot 16:3).
In these verses, God provides us with the formula to make amends for these mistakes. Come to Eretz Israel, where not only can you abide by My commandments to their fullest, but you can abide by more of My commandments than any where else (mitzvot hateluyot ba'aretz). In order not to fall prey to the negative influences of a foreign land, "bechukoteihem lo telechu," ("you shall not follow their laws"); and in order not to make the mistake of deferring your arrival and your observance of so many mitzvot, G-d urges everyone, "et mishpatai ta'asu ve'et chukotai tishmeru." ("You shall observe My laws, and keep My ordinances.")
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Mrs. Linda Derovan writes from Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Simply understood, the verses teach us that whenever we live among non-Jews, we should be cautious not to learn their ways or adopt their values. Rashi, however, is bothered by the two superfluous phrases in the verse, and so he understands that God is warning Israel who are now in the desert that the Egyptians of Goshen "where you dwelt" as well as the Canaanites of Israel where "I am taking you," are the most corrupt of the nations. Thus, you must be especially careful not to be influenced by their lifestyle.
The Kli Yakar takes a different approach and explains that these phrases reflect the wrongdoings committed by our people when they were in Egypt and while they were in the desert.
When Yaakov and his sons first come to Egypt and Yosef arranges a dwelling for them, we read (Bereishit 47:27), "Thus Israel settled in the country of Egypt in the region of Goshen?." Many commentaries point out that our forefathers erred when they "settled" in Egypt instead of treating the country as a temporary residence. And their wrongdoing in relation to the land of Canaan was that whenever they faced a difficulty in the desert, they disgraced the Holy Land by saying that they wished to return to Egypt (Bamidbar 14:4) or to die in the wilderness (Shemot 16:3).
In these verses, God provides us with the formula to make amends for these mistakes. Come to Eretz Israel, where not only can you abide by My commandments to their fullest, but you can abide by more of My commandments than any where else (mitzvot hateluyot ba'aretz). In order not to fall prey to the negative influences of a foreign land, "bechukoteihem lo telechu," ("you shall not follow their laws"); and in order not to make the mistake of deferring your arrival and your observance of so many mitzvot, G-d urges everyone, "et mishpatai ta'asu ve'et chukotai tishmeru." ("You shall observe My laws, and keep My ordinances.")
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Mrs. Linda Derovan writes from Ramat Beit Shemesh.