Parshas Re'ey - a thought on one of the first Rashis

“Look, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing, that (if) you heed the commandments of HaShem your God that I am commanding you today. And the curse, if you do not heed the commandments of HaShem your God and you veer from the course which I command you this day, to follow other gods which you did not know.”

~ Devarim 11:26-28

From the course which I command you this day, to follow etc. This teaches that anyone who worships idols has strayed from the entire course commanded to Israel. From here we learn that anyone who admits to idolatry denies the entire Torah.

~ Rashi on Devarim 11:28

Rashi’s explanation underscores the frightful gravity of the offense of worshipping gods beside HaShem, which is a viewed as a direct affront to God and a rejection of the entire Torah. This message is communicated repeatedly in Sefer Devarim (see, for instance, the reiteration of the Ten Commandments, Devarim 5:6-18, and later in our Parsha, 12:28-13:17).

This pointed injunction against the worshiping of other gods can prompt us to consider its correlates in interpersonal situations.

I’m confident that, if I asked what constitutes a similar unforgivable betrayal in a marriage, most people would answer “adultery.” If I considered what was the most painful betrayal for a child, it might be a situation where his/her parents violated his trust or acted in a way that showed they had no confidence in her skills or judgment.

In the same vein, what would be a painful betrayal of a good friend? Or a professional colleague you work with frequently? Or an aging, sometimes forgetful, and occasionally difficult parent? 

And if we accept that every potential offense exists on a continuum, from slight to severe, are there small betrayals we commit without thinking more commonly?

Our answers to these questions may differ, of course, as personalities and circumstances vary. The important thing is to ask ourselves the questions.