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Why does the Torah (תורה) attribute our exile to serving God without joy when we had abundance? The Rambam (רמב"ם) reads this differently: when we had everything, we stopped serving God entirely because excessive closeness without boundaries leads to disrespect and entitlement. This principle applies equally to marriages and parenting.
This shiur explores a profound insight from Parshas Ki Savo regarding the cause of Jewish exile and suffering. The Torah (תורה) states in Devarim 28:47 that our punishment came "because you did not serve Hashem (ה׳) your God with joy and a good heart when you had abundance." While Rashi (רש"י) and most commentators understand this as serving God without happiness, the Rambam (רמב"ם) offers a radically different interpretation. The Rambam, found in Hilchos Talmud (תלמוד) Torah 3 (end), reads the verse as: "Because you did not serve Hashem your God - [specifically] during your time of happiness and abundance, you stopped serving Him entirely." This parallels the verse about Yeshurun becoming fat and rebelling against God. The question becomes: why would prosperity lead people away from serving the very God who blessed them?
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Parshas Ki Savo, Devarim 28:47
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