משנה תורה
Devarim, Deuteronomy – The Fifth Book of Moses
The Book That Renews the Heart
By Jisrael Yitzchak Rosenfeld
פרשת דברים – שבת חזון
Parashat Devarim – Shabbat Chazon
The fifth book of the Torah begins with the words:
אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל
“These are the words that Moshe spoke to all Israel.”
(Deuteronomy 1:1)
Our Sages teach that Moshe Rabbeinu no longer repeats the Torah merely as the Divine messenger, but now speaks it in words that reach the heart of every Jew. It is therefore fitting that Mishneh Torah begins with the word “Devarim”—Words.
Rebbe Nachman zt”l reveals that a person’s entire spiritual life depends on the holiness of his speech.
He teaches:
עיקר קדושת האדם הוא הדיבור.
“The essence of a person’s holiness is his speech.”
(Likkutei Moharan I:19)
Our words create reality. Through them we can uplift ourselves or discourage ourselves. Moshe therefore begins the final book of the Torah with words that instill hope.
The Hidden Rebuke
Moshe reviews Israel’s journeys through the wilderness.
However, Rashi explains that many places are mentioned only by allusion, so as not to shame Israel publicly.
Reb Noson zt”l writes that genuine rebuke never breaks a person—it lifts him up.
עיקר התוכחה היא לעורר את האדם לשוב אל השם באהבה.
“The true purpose of rebuke is to awaken a person to return to Hashem with love.”
(Likkutei Halachot, Hilchot Hashkamat HaBoker)
This is also the Rebbe’s path:
It is not despair, but hope, that leads a person to teshuvah.
Never Despair!
Parashat Devarim is always read before Tisha B’Av.
Precisely during these days of mourning, Breslov’s most important message is heard.
Rebbe Nachman zt”l said:
אין שום יאוש בעולם כלל.
“There is absolutely no despair in the world.”
(Sichot HaRan 78)
The Temple was destroyed.
A person may fall.
Even the righteous may stumble.
But the bond with Hashem is never lost.
It is precisely in the darkest moment that the light of consolation begins to shine.
Shabbat Chazon
The Vision of the Third Beit HaMikdash
The Shabbat before Tisha B’Av is called Shabbat Chazon, also known in Yiddish as Shvartz Shabbos (“Black Shabbos”).
The Chassidic masters teach that on this Shabbat every Jew is granted a spiritual glimpse of the future Beit HaMikdash.
The Rebbe teaches:
אם אתה מאמין שיכולים לקלקל, תאמין שיכולים לתקן.
“If you believe that destruction is possible, then believe that restoration is also possible.”
(Likkutei Moharan II:112)
That is why Parashat Devarim is read immediately before the saddest day of the Jewish year.
Hashem first shows us the healing.
Only then does He allow us to feel the pain.
The Power of Prayer
Moshe repeats the entire Torah because every generation must hear these words anew—and this is accomplished through the power of prayer.
Rabbeinu zt”l teaches:
העיקר הוא התפילה.
“The main thing is prayer.”
(Likkutei Moharan II:25)
Whoever speaks with Hashem transforms the words of Sefer Devarim into living reality.
It is not only Moshe who speaks.
We speak as well.
Every personal conversation with Hashem—hitbodedut—continues the revelation of Sefer Devarim.
A New Beginning Is Always Possible
Reb Noson zt”l writes about beginning again:
אפילו אם עבר עליו מה שעבר, אל יפול בדעתו כלל, כי רחמי השם אין להם סוף.
“Even if a person has gone through whatever he has gone through, he should never lose heart, for Hashem’s mercy has no end.”
(Likkutei Halachot, Hilchot Birkot HaShachar)
This is the message of Sefer Devarim.
Before entering the Holy Land, Moshe did not merely remind the people of their past.
He opened the future.
Parashat Devarim teaches us that every holy word has the power to recreate a person.
Rebbe Nachman zt”l shows us the way:
אין שום יאוש בעולם כלל.
There is absolutely no despair.
Reb Noson zt”l adds:
“Often it is only after a person’s deepest falls that true closeness to Hashem begins.”
May we merit, on this Shabbat Chazon, to behold the vision of the coming Beit HaMikdash, to sanctify our words, and to return to Hashem with true joy and sincere teshuvah.
יהי רצון שנזכה במהרה לראות בבניין בית המקדש השלישי, בגאולה השלמה, בביאת משיח צדקנו, אמן.
May it be Hashem’s will that we soon merit to witness the rebuilding of the Third Beit HaMikdash, the complete Geulah, and the coming of Mashiach Tzidkeinu.
Amen.
