Page 82 - HTUNA
P. 82
Why did Moshe chastise the people for sins that their fathers, who had
already perished, had done? The maxim “The deeds of the fathers are a
symbol for their children” carries weight for better or for worse. Standing
at the entrance of Eretz Yisrael, Moshe Rabbeinu wished to sever this
generation completely from any adverse effects that their fathers’ deeds
might have on them. He did this by his rebuke.
Just as parents confer merit upon their children, so too, it is within the
children’s capacity to bring merit to their parents. This is borne out by the
saying “Sons bring merit to their fathers.” When a father circumcises his
son at eight days old, he is providing him protection from tumah.The
father will subsequently receive reward for his son’s good deeds, from the
day he circumcised him.
“These are the words that Moshe spoke to all
Israel, on the other side of the Jordan, in the
Wilderness, in the Aravah, opposite the Sea of
Reeds; between Paran and Tophel, and Lavan,
and Chatzerot, and Di-zahav”
(Devarim 1:1)
