{"id":16563,"date":"2026-08-06T17:22:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T17:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.torahmates.org\/jewish-resources\/?p=16563"},"modified":"2026-08-06T17:22:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T17:22:47","slug":"parashat-reeh-most-contagious-and-no-immunity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.torahmates.org\/jewish-resources\/parashat-reeh-most-contagious-and-no-immunity\/","title":{"rendered":"Parashat Re’eh: Most Contagious and No Immunity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do Not Be Negatively Influenced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The verses in this week’s Torah reading state as follows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“When your God will annihilate the nations to which you are going there (to the Promised Land) to conquer them, and you will conquer them and settle in their land, stand guard to make sure you do not follow them, after they are destroyed before you, for you might seek their gods, saying, ‘In which manner did they worship their idols so I too can do so?’ Do not do so to your God, for all the [practices which are] abominations to God which He hates, they have done.”<\/p>\nDevarim 12:29-31<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Danger of Outside Influences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Torah is hereby warning the Jews about the looming spiritual danger involved in conquering the Land of Israel, as they reach their final destination, after being liberated from Egypt. While they were in the desert for forty years, they had little contact with the outside world. They were enveloped in clouds surrounding their camp from all sides and had all their needs provided to them within their inhabitance. For forty years they were settled around the Mishkan (Tabernacle), studying the word of God from Moshe (Moses), completely sheltered from outside influences<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But now, as they are about to exit their haven and enter a land full of gentiles who practice behaviors inconsistent with the Torah, they are posed with a real danger. As they are exposed to the immoral practices these people held, they might become influenced by what they see and veer from the path of Torah. Therefore, God is cautioning them to stand guard and not allow these influences to penetrate their minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Was Such a Stern Warning Necessary?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One may wonder, why was it necessary to give such a stern warning to these people? The Jews have been fortified with Torah and God’s presence surrounding them for forty years while staying far away from unwarranted influences. Why is it perceived to be such a great threat, that of all of the sudden they will make a change for the worse because they will witness some gentiles observing illicit practices?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No One Is Immune<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Rambam (Maimonides – Laws of Philosophies 6:1<\/a>) says: “The nature of a human being is to be drawn in his philosophies and his actions after his close ones and his friends, and he acts in accordance to the custom of the people of his land. Therefore, a person must attach himself to the righteous and always sit by the wise, in order to learn from their deeds, and he should distance himself from the wicked who go in the dark, in order that he should not learn from their deeds.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rambam is hereby describing human nature. No matter how great and fortified a person may be in his convictions, a person always lives with an inborn instinct to be susceptible to outside influences. No one is immune to this<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even Great People Recognized the Danger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein was an exceptional person in his fear of Heaven and his devotion to serving God. Rabbi Shach, a great Torah leader in his own right, said about him in his eulogy, that despite the vast decline in our spiritual levels since early generations, even if Rabbi Levenstein would have lived five hundred years ago, he would be considered a real pious individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In spite of his outstanding self-discipline, when Rabbi Levenstein arrived in America after World War II, he could not tolerate staying in the United States. Even though he was surrounded by an atmosphere of people who were true to Torah values, he sensed the influence of the American mentality challenging his service of God. As strong as he was in his devotion, he knew that he too was vulnerable to having the prevalent attitude in America of pursuing materialism<\/a> hinder his spiritual growth. Before long, he made his way to Israel and settled there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guarding Our Spiritual Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This concept places a tremendous responsibility upon us. We must be extremely careful with what we expose ourselves to. Sometimes we like to think we are strong in our principles and we will not be affected by spending time with others who have lower standards. We would be making a foolish mistake to think so. Every human is naturally inclined to be influenced by his surroundings. There is no immunity to this phenomenon. We must be meticulous about whom we choose to be in company with<\/a>. Any exposure to ways of life which do not conform to our standards is a threat to our own spiritual health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes we cannot control the situation and we are confronted with conduct or attitudes which can potentially influence us in a detrimental way. In such cases, we must not ignore the danger. We must make a conscious effort to be on guard in battling these views and influences from seeping into our minds, in order that our own spiritual levels should remain intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Rabbi Yitzchok Aryeh Strimber<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n