As Heard From Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L
“And you shall remember the entire journey that Hashem your G-d led you these forty years in the wilderness.” (8:2)
When Rabbenu Yonah wished to point out the great importance of a Mitzvat Aseh (positive Commandment), he states that some of the most obligatory duties required by Hashem are expressed in the form of a Mitzvat Aseh. This verse is among the examples of such great duties and principles cited by Rabbenu Yonah (Shaare Teshuba 3:17): “The great virtues of remembering His kindnesses and of meditating upon them, as is said “And you shall remember the entire journey” and it is said “They meditated in the kindnesses of Hashem.” (Tehillim 107:43)
Thus we learn that this verse, “You shall remember”, refers not only to the nation in general and not only to the journeys in the Wilderness. But, it imposes the obligation upon every individual to look back upon his own journeys in life and to spend some time meditating upon them in order to appreciate more greatly how much he must be grateful to Hashem for His many kindnesses.
In one’s journey through life many perils and illnesses and misfortunes and evil influences hovered nearby, even though he was totally unaware of them. And Hashem continued to protect him as he journeyed from childhood to adolescence and on to adult maturity.
He must be grateful also for the continued well being of his wife and children. And, he must always be aware of the tragedies that others had suffered but from which he had been protected by Hashem. This is an example of the method of utilizing commandments to the nation in general as admonitions for each individual.
When Rabbi Miller ZT”L was asked by a grandchild to reminisce upon his youth, the Rabbi responded. “Talking about the olden days is a waste of time. However, in the context of ‘you shall remember’ (see above), it is a Mitzvah.”
Shabbat Shalom
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