Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, tackles this very question. It starts with a bold statement. Rabbi Elazar says that after God spoke at Sinai, "From the mouth of the Most High, evil and good do not emerge" (Lamentations 3:38). What?! Does that mean God isn't in control? Not exactly. Rabbi Elazar clarifies: evil befalls those who do evil, and good to those who do good. It's a system of cause and effect, action and consequence.
Then Rabbi Ḥagai adds another layer. It’s not just about consequences, but about choice. God didn’t just give us two paths, good and evil; He went above and beyond, urging us: "You shall choose life!" (Deuteronomy 30:19). The choice is ours. We are active participants in creating our own realities.
But how do we stay on the right path? What empowers us to choose life?
Well, the text then explores the idea of tishmerun – observance. Before God tells us to choose life, He says, "For if you will observe this entire commandment" (Deuteronomy 11:22). So, what's this "entire commandment?" Rabbi Levi says it's the recitation of Shema – the central Jewish prayer affirming God's oneness. Other Rabbis say it’s Shabbat, the Sabbath, which is considered equal to all the mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah. Both emphasize the importance of dedicated, mindful practice.
Then bar Kappara offers a powerful image. He compares the soul and the Torah to lamps. "The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord" (Proverbs 20:27), and "a mitzva is a lamp, the Torah is light" (Proverbs 6:23). God says, "My lamp is in your hand and your lamp is in My hand… If you observe My lamp [the Torah], I protect your lamp [the soul]. If you extinguish My lamp, I extinguish your lamp." It's a beautiful metaphor for the reciprocal relationship between us and the Divine. Our actions directly impact our spiritual well-being, and vice versa. We have to shamor tishmerun – observe, so that we are guarded.
Rabbi Shimon takes it further with an analogy: imagine two people, each with a vineyard in the other's territory. They agree to guard each other's vineyard. If one fails, both suffer. "So the Holy One blessed be He said to man: ‘My Torah is in your hand and your soul is in My hand – if you observe mine, I protect yours. If you ruin mine, I will ruin yours.’" It’s all interconnected.
And it's not just about abstract concepts. Rabbi Yehuda bar Sima connects observance to tangible protection. If you observe the words of the Torah, God will protect you from demons! Whoa, demons? Rabbi Abba bar Ze’ira says there’s not a single beit rova – a small space of about 24 square meters – in the world without thousands of demons. These demons normally wear masks, but when we act iniquitously, they remove their masks and can harm us. But don’t panic! Psalm 55:19 tells us, "He redeemed me unharmed from the battle against me." When are we protected? When "there were many with me" (Psalm 55:19) – the angels that guard us.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi adds that when we are observant, an image goes before us, and heralds proclaim, "Make room for the image of the Holy One blessed be He!" See how many guards are protecting you! It’s a powerful image of divine protection that comes from living a life of meaning and purpose.
Ultimately, it all comes back to choice. God has placed before us two paths – blessing and curse. Blessing if we heed His words, curse if we do not.
So, what does all this mean for us today? Maybe it's a reminder that our actions have consequences, not just in this world, but on a deeper, spiritual level. Maybe it's an invitation to choose life, to embrace the Torah, to nurture our souls. And maybe, just maybe, it's a little reassurance that we're not alone on this journey. We have the Torah, our souls, and, if we choose to observe, a whole host of angels watching over us.