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“Look at these!” are words that might be exclaimed upon encountering something new or different. Thus, the opening phrase of our Parsha, “These are the words which Moshe spoke to all the Jewish people,” comes to teach us that words of Torah should always be looked upon as something new and exciting – as our Sages said, “they should be new in your eyes every day”.
owever, to change the way one things (and acts) to the extent that one has genuinely adopted a “new” approach, is no less than a miracle. For if the definition of a miracle is an “unprecedented change in nature,” then a totally fresh outlook to Torah and Divine service also represents an unprecedented change in our nature – a personal miracle.
In order to help us perform this wonder on a daily basis, G-d gave us the gift of sleep. At first glance, sleep appears to be a total waste of time; for how is the purpose of creation advanced when one is lying in bed? Why did G-d charge us with a mission to improve and perfect the world, only to “handicap” us with the need to spend a significant portion of each day out of action?
In truth however, G-d made us need to sleep for a positive reason; for after a night’s sleep one feels like a new person who is able to break free from the limitations of yesterday. So, since G-d wanted the, “words, which Moshe spoke to all the Jewish people,” to be, “new in your eyes every day,” He built into us a mechanism which makes the miracle of changing our nature a little bit easier.
(Based on Sichas Shabbos Parsha Devarim 5750)
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