Machshava:

Chinuch 

Parsha:

Nitzavim 

Collections: R' Goldin Parenting from the Parsha

Description

In this weeks parsha, Moshe declares the following: “Hanistaros la’Hashem Elokeinu, v’haniglot Lanu Ul’vaneinu Ad Olim”, “the hidden things are for Hashem our G-d, but the revealed things are for us and our children forever…”. Rashi explains, based on the gemara, that this passuk is outlining the parameters of the Jewish concept of areivut, that all Jews are responsible for each other, including the actions of those around us. The exact parameters of areivut are actually debated in the Gemara Sanhedrin 43b. Rabbi Yehuda says that it teaches us that the distinction mentioned in the passuk was only true until Bnei Yisrael entered Eretz Yisrael. Once they entered their homeland, the parameters of areivut expanded, and the nation now became responsible not only for sins done in public, but even for those done in private. The commentaries struggle to explain the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. How can it be that upon entry to Eretz Yisrael, the community would be responsible for the actions committed by an individual in private? How can we be responsible for sins that we don’t witness, or arent aware of at all?