Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading.
In Israel, where only one day of Shavuot is observed, the regular weekly Torah reading cycle continued as usual when the holiday ended on Friday. In the Diaspora, however, a second day of Shavuot was observed on Shabbat itself, so the special festival reading replaced the regular weekly parsha that week. As a result, Israel moved ahead by one parsha, and the Diaspora remained one week behind until later in the year when the readings are combined to bring the two cycles back together.
1st Aliyah: Moshe details the general rewards for following the Torah, and encourages the nation to have complete confidence in Hashem’s protection. Moshe forewarns them of the dangers in being overly confident and commands them in the Mitzvah of Birkas Hamazon (8:10).
2nd Aliyah: Moshe warns them regarding the pitfalls of prosperity and idolatry, and exhorts them to remain humble in the face of their guaranteed victories. G-d is the one who deserves the credit!
3rd Aliyah: In order to illustrate his point, Moshe reviews the incident of the Golden Calf. He explains why G-d, being a G-d of Justice, will grant the Bnai Yisroel a victory over the inhabitants of Canaan. Not because the Jews are deserving, but because the Seven Nations deserve to be punished for their own evil actions. The actions of the Bnai Yisroel during the 40 years, such as the Golden Calf, should have resulted in the Jews’ destruction. It was three factors which kept them alive and well so that they could inherit the land.
1. Hashem’s promise to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov.
2. The Chillul Hashem– desecration of G-d’s name–that would have occurred among the other nations who would question G-d’s ability to protect His nation.
3. Moshe’s begging for Hashem’s forgiveness.
4th Aliyah: Moshe finishes the story of the Golden Calf by retelling the giving of the Second Luchos.
5th Aliyah: Moshe poses the famous rhetorical question of, “What does G-d want… follow His ways…” and describes other instances of Hashem’s demanding justice.
6th Aliyah: Moshe describes the nature of Eretz Yisroel as demanding and responsive to our following the Torah. The second Parsha of Shema is recorded.
7th Aliya: Moshe promises the nation total victory if they listen to the Mitzvos and follow the ways of the Hashem.
This is the second week of the haftorot of consulation known as: VaTomer Tzion . In this week’s Haftorah, Yishayuhu the Navi evokes a powerful image that is consistent with this week’s Parsha. He describes our relationship with Hashem as a mother who can not possibly abandon or forget her children. Nothing that we will do, or that might occur, can result in Hashem being divorced from His People. In fact, even though G-d seemingly “hides His face” from us and allows other nations to dominate and oppress us, they will ultimately have to answer to Him.
Parents who appropriately punish their children are doing G-d’s work and are rewarded for their expressions of love and caring. However, the “punishing nations” have never accepted their position as the extended hand of a loving G-d chastising and punishing His chosen people. Therefore, they will be punished, rather than rewarded.
The imagery is intended to focus us on the emotional and unbreakable bond that exists between us and Hashem. It is no different than a mother who must cope with the child who ignores and disobeys her. However, in spite of the hurt and the responsibility to punish, the parent is incapable of separating herself from the love and concern she feels for her child, even more so at the time of punishment! It is therefore incumbent upon the child, not the mother, to recognize the parents’ ever present love, and embrace, rather than shun, the relationship.
In the end, recognizing that Hashem has never and will never abandoned us, especially at the times of our greatest trials and tragedies, will reawaken our love for Hashem and bring comfort to the nation and Eretz Yisroel.