The Panoramic View of 6,000 Nurtures Emunah

Although the Torah is not a history book per say, it is a book that contains the history of Am Yisrael. In the Breakthrough Chinuch program of Contextual Learning, the panorama of 6, ooo years of history contains five major turning points, four of which took place during the time depicted in the  Chamisha Chumshei Torah and the last one extending from then until the coming of Mashiach. The first three turning points can be described as a winnowing process. World history begins with the creation of the universe and by the end of the first perek in Chumash the spotlight of history focuses on the creation and existence of mankind. From that moment the spotlight of history searched for the man that would be the Tzadik needed to fulfill the purpose for HaShem’s creation. There was a winnowing and sifting through twenty generations until the focus fell upon Avraham Avinu and his progeny. The fourth turning point is called the Exodous and Divine revelation-the creation of a nation and number five is the compilation of the prophecies that predict the future destiny of the Nation of Israel until the coming of Mashiach.

 In regards to Turning point three, Chazal describe the winnowing process as the search for the gem lost in the sand. The king’s crown jewel fell from his crown into the sand and he assembled all of his men to sift and search. Finally, someone scooped up a large pile of sand and upon spotting the gem he removed it from the pile and discarded the dirt. Avraham Avinu and his offspring became Hashem’s crown jewel.

 We find that the selection of Avraham Avinu actually did not complete the process that the Midrash described. Within the selection of his family there were strands that inherited the title of “Zerah Avraham” and those that did not. Obviously, the two that come to mind are Yishmael and Eisav. The separation of Yishmael and Yitzchak Avinu was more simple because the title Zerah Avraham included Sarah Imainu. Eisav on the other hand, because he descended from Rivka Imainu, the same mother as his brother, he appears to have remained in contention with Yaakov Avinu to be either selected as the Zerah Avraham for his generation or at least to be a partner with him.

 Rashi brings light to this situation when the Torah juxtaposes the recording of the extensive lineage of Eisav and their settling in Har Seir to Yaakov Avinu and his family settling in the land of Caanan. He comments that once again the Torah depicts a winnowing type situation where Eisav’s family is quickly mentioned in just several lines of the Torah, listed with very little detail compared to the story of Yaakov Avinu and his family that was recorded with great detail over the remaining chapters and books of the Torah and beyond. Rashi quotes the same Midrash of the gem-Zerah Yaakov being plucked from the mound of dirt-the children of Eisav.

 Because of the structure of the Torah and the history that it lays out by identifying five turning points in 6,000 years, we understand that the fundamentals of Emunah are embedded in the Torah’s message. Consider how the winnowing process keeps narrowing down to what is truly essential in the “eyes” of HaShem, and what remains is the Am Segulah. We are left with great clarity that we are part of HaShem’s chosen nation, a Goy Kadosh.  

The Torah is telling us that this fundamental belief is a prerequisite to all other fundamental beliefs, especially the commitment to fulfill Taryag Mitzvot. This appears to be the underlying issue that leads to people going off the derech. They may profess to a belief in HaShem, at least at first, but it stops translating into practice. They don’t see/feel/understand the correlation between the existence of HaShem and the imperative to come His Mitzvot. There is a fundamental link missing.

This necessary idea was expressed by a keen insight by HaRav Yaakov Weinberg, Z”L. He asked, why does the Rambam state the halacha in chinuch that a father is required to teach his child two pesukim, Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe Morasha Kehilat Yaakov and Shema Yisrael… in this order? What bothered HaRav Yaakov was the Rambam’s understanding of the Gemarrah that the pasuk Shema Yisrael was relegated to the second pasuk taught to a young child and not first. The question is obvious. Despite the importance of the pasuk Torah Tziva and its message, there is no pasuk in all of Tanach that can stand with Shema Yisrael. HaRav Yaakov concluded that before a child internalizes the message that HaShem is King and therefore his Mitzvot need to be followed, children need to understand that they are part of Kehilat Yaakov. Then they come to understand that because they are members of Kehilat Yaakov and HaShem has chosen them, they are committed to fulfilling His will forever.

I believe that HaRav Yaakov’s insight promotes one other significant point. Because the message conveyed by the order of the pasukim is intended for very young children, we understand that these messages have the greatest value and potency when children are young. It’s in this vain, that the Breakthrough Chinuch program’s Contextual Learning component is meant for young children who are just beginning to delve into HaShem’s Torah. They are most fit to internalize powerful lessons of Emunah.

The Maccabees put their lives on the line for the sake of the Torah and practice of Mitzvot. Their burning belief that they were part of the Am Segulah-Kehilat Yaakov and thereby at one with Taryag, gave them the courage and will to stand up to great odds against a world power.

Let’s take the opportunity during Chanukah to evaluate our Chinuch systems as to their effectiveness in preparing our children for Kabalat Pnei HaMashiach.