Devarim
A Good Eye
The concluding book of the Five Books of Moses, Dvorim, is essentially a
soliloquy of Moses, reviewing the events of the Sinai for forty years. It
is the final testament of Moses to Israel, his last words of prophecy and
leadership spoken and written in his 120th year, the year of his death.
Moses has some very strong criticisms of Israel in this final message of
his. In the Torah reading of this week he complains that the role of Jewish
leadership is too overwhelming a task for any one human, even the greatest
of all humans, Moses himself. Faced with the bitter memories of the
failures of the desert the Golden Calf, Korach, the constant carping and
ingratitude of Israel Moses could easily have made this book of Dvorim a
diatribe of despair and pessimism. All would understand such an attitude
and there would be many who would even justify such feelings of hurt,
rejection and disappointment. But the great Moses does not leave us with
discouraging words. Rather, he blesses Israel, with all of its shortcomings
and spiritual weaknesses, for all of its generations: “May the Lord your
God increase you as you are a hundredfold and may He bless you as He has
promised you.”
One of the most essential traits for leadership of any kind and most
certainly for leadership in Jewish life is cultivating a “good eye.” Our
Rabbis in Pirkei Avot emphasize that having a “good eye” is a major goal
and accomplishment in life. A “good eye” allows one to be optimistic and
hopeful, even though the realities of life are often discouraging and
negative. One of the tests of faith in Judaism is the ability to be
optimistic even in the face of overwhelming difficulties. Again, the Rabbis
of the Talmud taught us “Even if there be a sharp knife held at your throat
do not despair completely.” Despair, merciless criticism, pessimism,
bitterness, cynicism - none of these traits and attitudes is acceptable
Jewish behavior, and certainly not in those who occupy public leadership
roles. The Torah demands that we always look at life and people
realistically. We are not allowed to willfully fool ourselves as to the
negative dangers that exist around us. All of that being said, the Torah
then asks us to nevertheless be optimistic, hopeful, and to see life’s
realities and circumstances through the prism of a “good eye.”
The words of Moses, even those hard and critical ones of Israel, were
spoken with love and hope and a prophetic vision of a brighter future and
the continuing protection and benevolence of our Creator. Moses’ words were
not limited to his time and generation of Jews but were intended for all
generations of the Jewish people. Moses speaks to us of our real
shortcomings and of God Himself. He warns us that these are unpleasant
consequences that result from such attitudes and behavior. But he also
blesses us and endows us with the gift of his “good eye” of being able to
see the good in life and people and of being optimistic and strong hearted
in the face of all adversity. It is this message of Moses that makes the
Book of Dvarim timeless and eternal.
Shabat Shalom.
Rabbi Berel Wein
Text Copyright © 2002 Rabbi Berel Wein and
Project Genesis, Inc.
