V'Eschanan

Although there are many different iterations of the Jewish calendar, there are some events that are constants, one of them being that Parshas V'Eschanan falls out on the Shabbos immediately following Tisha B'Av. Accordingly, no Chumash includes an alternate Haftorah for V'Eschanan--the two are intractably connected. we often discuss the reason that specific Parsha precedes a certain Yom Tov, in an effort to prepare ourselves for the coming Moed. In this case, however, Tisha B'Av has passed us, yet this Parsha is still in some way connected to the day and so it would seem that perhaps there is a lesson to be found within Parshas V'Eschanan that is appropriate in the aftermath of Tisha B'Av, the day on which we mourn the Churban Bais Hamikdash as well as so many other tragedies and travesties.

Following the Parshios of Shema and VHaya Ki Yiviacha, both of while are so central to our existence as Jews, the Torah speaks about what will happen when we reach Eretz Yisroel. We are told that we must separate ourselves from the native inhabitants of the land--"Lo Sichanem V'Lo Sischaten Bam", we are not to maintain casual relationships with them and certainly not seek to marry our children to theirs. The Torah paints a very distressing picture of what may happen if we do not heed this warning: "Ki Yasir Es Bincha M'Achorai V'Avdu Elohim Acherim", they will cause our children to stray from the Derech Hashem, and turn to idol warship. Rather, the Torah tells us, we are to destroy them and their edifices, leaving no trace of their existence.

On the face of it, this is a very logical set of instructions: if we mix with the nations of the world, and especially if we intermarry, we run the risk of our children turning away from the Derech HaYashar. There really should be no no need for additional explanation, but the Torah continues, adding a series of Pessukim that begin with the words "Ki Am Kadosh L'Hashem Elokecha", and go on to remind us that we were selected as the "Am Segulah MiKol HaMamim". These Pessukim themselves seem to be somewhat extra--the Torah already explained the pitfalls of befriending the Umos HaOlam--and we of course must understand why they were added, but the following {esukim seem even more curious.

V'Eschanan