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Thought for the Day: After the Spies -- HaShem Has a DMC With His Beloved Nation

Never heard the term "DMC"? It means "deep meaningful conversation". The first time I heard the term was from the daughter of a neighbor and close friend who had come back from seminary and was struggling with shidduchim. She had (and still has) a very close relationship with her mother. I saw her one afternoon and she had a particularly thoughtful look on her face. I asked her about it, and she told me, with a very sincere smile, that she and her mother had just had a DMC. (She has since married to a wonderful young man. Baruch HaShem, our families are still closer despite the years and distance.)

This week's parasha begins with the Jewish nation on the verge of entering the promised land, then details how their bad decisions earned them 40 years of exile in the desert, and finishes with the mitzvah of ציצית. The very last verse of this parasha ends (in translation): I am HaShem, your G-d Who took you out of the land of Mitzrayim to be for you your G-d; I am HaShem your G-d.

Strange, no? There doesn't seem to be any information here that is not already very well known. Besides that, the last three words seem to be just a repetition of the first three. I urge you... Please, if you do not learn another Rashi on chumash, please learn this one. The verse is HaShem sitting down with his beloved nation for a DMC. Here are some highlights.

I am HaShem -- faithful and steadfast, both for reward and, as your G-d, discipline. Who took you out of Mitzrayim, who redeemed in order for you to accept My decrees. I am HaShem, your G-d -- this is not an option where you get rewarded if you fulfill My decrees and get nothing otherwise, I am your King, and you are My nation; we are in this together.

Why do we have the mitzvah of ציצית here? The gematria of ציצית is 600 (if you spell it just right, as I have here). The ציצית contain 8 threads and are tied with 5 knots. Altogether that comes to 613. HaShem also reminds us that just as He was able to discern who was a firstborn in Mitzrayim, He can also discern if someone concocts some blue dye and calls it תכלת; it won't go well for him in the future.

The end of the parasha tells us about the offerings to be brought if the community serves Avoda Zara and then the case of the individual who collected sticks on Shabbos. This is to let us know that just as serving Avoda Zara is an act of treason against our King, so too is the desecration of Shabbos.

The ציצית are placed in the four (not three and not five) כנפות/corners of our garments. Four corners for the four statements of redemption: I took you out, I saved you, I redeemed you, and I took you for My nation. The word כנף also means "wing". The ציצית on the four corners of our garments therefore remind us that we are surrounded by the 613 mitzvos of the Torah on all sides, and the mitzvos are decreed by our King who took us out of Mitzrayim on the כנפות/wings of eagles.

There is more. Enjoy.
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