Parshas Vayeilech
Moshe Went, but Never Left
Moshe's last day on earth is at hand. His leadership of Israel is about to
end. His physical strength has not failed him but he is unable any longer
to come and to go. The Talmud explains that the time of a ruler can in no
way infringe not even a hairs breadth on the time of the next ruler It is
no longer the time of Moshe. It is the time of Yehoshua. As in the life of
almost all humans, Moshe leaves the world with some regrets and unrealized
hopes. He will not lead the people of Israel into the Land of Israel and
he himself will not be buried there. His two sons will not succeed him in
leadership and special prominence. And, he has seen into the dark tunnel
of future Jewish history and is therefore acutely aware of the tragedies,
difficulties, struggles and challenges that face his beloved people and
their descendants throughout the coming ages.
Yet he is comforted by the fact that his beloved Yehoshua will take his
place and bring Israel into its homeland and guide them in settling it. He
is also comforted by the promise of God that Israel will survive all of
the vicissitudes of its history and eventually be redeemed and
strengthened physically and spiritually. The Midrash has Moshe attended to
in his final hours by God Himself, so to speak. Thus death itself has no
terrors for him, only the sadness of leaving a world where so much can be
accomplished for a world that is eternal but poses no further challenge.
The title word of the parsha vayelech Moshe went is itself interesting and
yet puzzlesome. Where is Moshe going? If it is to speak to the Jewish
people, he always did so from the confines of the camp of holiness
surrounding the mishkan/tabernacle. The Midrash provides us insight into
the word vayelech he went. It states that Moshe now went from tribe to
tribe, from tent to tent of the families of Israel to take leave of them.
He showed them that his love for them knew no bounds and that even though
he ruled over them with a strong hand and an uncompromising demeanor,
everything that he did in his forty-year stewardship of Israel was done
with Divine blessing and enormous care and love. To confirm all of this in
the minds of the Jews, he now visited them all he went to them to say
goodbye and as we will read in a few short weeks, to bless them and
strengthen them.
Even on the last day of his life, the welfare of the Jewish people is
Moshes main concern and preoccupation. Is there any wonder therefore, that
there arose none like Moshe in all of human history? Moshe is the paradigm
of leadership, of selfless concern and wise guidance for an often
contentious and fractious society. Moshe went in this weeks parsha but his
influence and teachings remain with Israel and in fact all of humanity on
a continuing and eternal basis.
Shabat Shalom.
Shana Tova.
Rabbi Berel Wein
Text Copyright © 2005 by Rabbi Berel Wein and Torah.org
Visit www.rabbiwein.com for a complete selection of Rabbi Wein's books and tapes.
