One for All and All for One

Sep 12, 2019

Sefer Devarim introduces us to many mitzvot not previously mentioned in any of the books of the Chumash. The command to appoint judges and create a broad legal system, to appoint a king, laws of marriage and, when necessary, how to properly terminate a marriage, are but a few examples. Some commands mentioned in this portion, however, are repeats but with a significant change in language. One such example is the command to return lost objects. Here the Torah switches from the word “your enemy” used earlier in Parshat Mishpatim, to “your brother.” The switch in language from “your enemy” to “your brother,” regarding the mitzvah to return lost objects is significant. Entering the land of Israel brought with it a new responsibility of ביו אדם לחבירו, “between a man and his fellow.” This added dimension to mitzvot created the nation. Judaism was not just to be millions of individuals all doing the same things. Rather, Judaism now embraced a national commitment to a new way of life. This new concept of “brotherhood” not only accounts for the many new social commands found in Sefer Devarim and our parasha, but we must also now provide for the wellbeing of each individual in the framework of nationhood.