A Broken Heart Inspires Change
By Rabbi Shmuel Grunberger
In last week's Parsha, Moshe told k'lal Yisrael the 98 curses that would befall them if they did not follow the Torah. This week's Parsha begins with the words, "Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem." Rashi asks, what is the reason for the juxtaposition of "Atem nitzavim hayom" with the curses in the previous parsha? He quotes a Medrash which explains that after k'lal Yisrael heard the curses, their faces turned pallid and they exclaimed, "Who can bear these [curses]?" Moshe Rabeinu, wishing to console them, responds - "Atem nitzavim hayom" - "You are all standing here today!" In other words, even though you angered Hashem, He nevertheless allowed you to live and didn't destroy you.
This Medrash needs explanation. First, Moshe's consolation seems to contradict the Gemara that states, "Anyone who says Hashem is disregarding of sin, his life shall be disregarded." (Bava Kama 50a). Moshe's response implies that Hashem overlooked their sins and didn't follow through with the curses. Second, if they did cause Hashem to become so angry with them, and the Gemara says that Hashem does not ignore sins, why in fact did Hashem not destroy them as per the curses?
Rav Elya Lopian, zt"l answers, that Hashem never punishes out of revenge, chas v'shalom. Rather, He gives punishment for the benefit of the sinner. The word "yesurim" (pain and suffering) comes from "mussar" - rebuke. Pain causes one to recognize and acknowledge that they are being rebuked, and calls for them to change and do teshuvah. This is alluded to in the pasuk in Tehillim, "The sacrifices Hashem desires are a spirit that is broken; a heart broken and humbled. O Hashem you will not despise." (Tehillim 51-13).
The Vilna Gaon compares this to a field that one wishes to fertilize. In order for the seeds to be planted successfully, the field must first be plowed and softened. The heart of a person is the same. To plant seeds of growth and teshuvah, the heart must first be softened and broken into.
Now, we can understand Moshe's response. K'lal Yisrael was frightened, pained and heart-broken from the curses. They were afraid of not being able to withstand them due to the many sins they committed. Moshe realized this and therefore told them, "Don't worry; that was the purpose of the curses. If you were heart-broken and scared, which led you to teshuva, then Hashem fulfilled His intentions of announcing the curses. It's as if the curses were implemented and you were 'destroyed.' My proof is that "You are all standing here today" and were not physically eliminated."
As we approach the Yomim Noraim, let us remember the curses that are given when we don't follow Hashem's Torah and mitzvos. Let the awe and fear of the Yom Hadin inspire us to do sincere teshuva, because that is the ultimate purpose of these days. Let the embarrassment of our sins, and fear of receiving punishment, inspire us to repent and return to our roots. Although the ideal teshuva should be out of our love for Hashem, Chazal tell us, "If you can't do teshuvam'ahavah then do teshuvam'yirah - out of our fear of Hashem." May Hashem hear our tefillos, accept our teshuvah, and inscribe us in the Book of Life with a K'siva V'Chasima Tova!
