Bechukosai: Action, Not Just Words (FINAL!)

My apologies for all the duplicates and the cut-up dvar Torah.  My editor, yes, I have one, and no, she's not my wife, has been having some technical issues.  At least that's what's she's been saying.  I think she's been hitting the bottle a little to hard, but don't tell her I said that...

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Two nights ago, my wife and I woke up from some loud rumbling.  We’ve had some late-season rains and thunderstorms recently, so in my daze, I asked her if there is any laundry outside that needs to be brought in.  She answered in the affirmative, so I went outside to bring it in.  However, I noticed when I got outside, the sky was clear and the stars were out.  My brain then figured out what was going on.  I returned to the room, informed my wife, that “it’s just a war," and promptly fell back  to sleep.  Honestly, if countries are going to try to kill themselves, can’t they at least let me get a few hours of sleep? 

 

“And they shall confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, in their treachery which they committed against me, and also they have walked contrary unto Me.  I also will walk contrary unto them, and bring them into the land of their enemies” (Vayikra 26:40-41).

 

I’ll be honest, when reading this as part of the parsha, I never noticed this.  When reading these two psukim, it doesn’t seem to make much sense.  First they will confess their sins, then they will be punished.  That’s generally not a good thing.

 

The Chofetz Chaim remarks that confessing one’s sins without actually doing anything to CORRECT one’s sins, is not worth a thing.  When a person does something wrong, feels bad afterwards, and continues on with life without actually doing anything about it, then what? He’ll simply continue to repeat that sin, and his account will continue to fall "into debt."

 

When attempting to do teshuva, one must regret and confess over what he did wrong.  But, he MUST also attempt to make some change in life in order that it doesn’t happen again.  If it happens again, fine; make another change that will hopefully work.  For THAT, nothing can be held against you, since you are making a real attempt to change your life.

 

Have a great Shabbos!