This week’s Sedra once again (as did last week’s) seems to be an introduction to the Brachos and Klalos (to the Blessings and the Curses). This week’s Torah portion states it explicitly: “see I place before you today the Brocho and the Klolo”. The obvious question is: why does the Torah need to give such a lengthy introduction to the subject of Blessings and Curses?

In the second Passuk of this week’s Sedra there is an interesting discrepancy between the wording used for the Brocho and that used for the Klolo. The Passuk says we will receive the Brocho if we listen to Hashem’s Mitzvos etc.  The then continues by stating that the Klolo will befall us if we don’t listen to Hashem’s Mitzvos etc. The difference is that regarding the Brocho the Torah uses the word אשר to mean ‘if’ and regarding the Klolo the Torah uses the word אם to mean ‘if’. While the discrepancy may be a minor one, it nevertheless remains a discrepancy.  Why the change in wording?

Reb Tzadok (see Pri Tzadik) notes the difference in wording and offers the following answer: while it is true that if we adhere to Hashem’s Mitzvos and learn Hashem’s Torah we will merit much good, this good isn’t the real “Good” or the real “Brocho”.  The real good, suggests Reb Tzadok, is learning Torah and doing Mitzvos. In effect, this idea is also what the Mishna in Pirkei Avos tells us: the reward for a Mitzvah is a Mitzvah (see Leshem).

The word “asher” doesn’t only mean “if”. It also means ‘that’. Reb Tzadok explains that the Passuk is telling us that real genuine Brocho is that we will learn Torah and do Mitzvos.

Torah isn’t merely a topic, nor are Mitzvos merely acts. Torah and Mitzvos are a way of life. Torah and Mitzvos represent the most wonderful blessing.

Were the Torah would to have listed the Brachos and Klalos without first explaining to us that they are a way of life, these Blessings and Curses would have seemed like mere rewards and punishments, thus minimizing the importance of choosing an exclusive approach. The Torah however doesn’t do this. The Torah emphasizes through a two-Parsha-long introduction the fact that Torah and Mitzvos is the blessed way of life and that sin is inherently cursed.

Reb Levi Yitzchak Miberdichev used to say there is no such thing as being without Hashem. One is either ‘with’ or, R”L, ‘against’ Hashem. Torah and Mitzvos on the one hand, sin on the other are mutually exclusive. We must choose the way of Torah and Mitzvos, to be with Hashem, and thus choose Brocho.

A very warm Good Shabbos, Rabbi Y. Dov Krakowski