A Bima-Ready D’var Torah Every Week
13 Av 5779
Parashat Va'etchanan
Moses' Plea
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:1-26
Shalom!
This week's Taste of Torah comes from our archives and was written by Rabbi Jeremy Simons.
Moses sets a high bar when it comes to accomplishments. After spending a few years finding himself in the wilderness, Moses leads an entire nation to freedom in such a way that "never again did there arise a prophet like Moses" (Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses was great enough that upon his death, God "spoke up, saying 'Who will rise up for Me in behalf of evildoers? Who will rise up in Israel's behalf at the time of My anger?'"[i] Our tradition was worthy enough that even God mourned his death. Yet, as we are reminded this week, Moses was not perfect.
This week's Torah portion Va'etchanan, begins with Moses pleading to God, asking that he be allowed to enter into the land of Israel across the Jordan River, despite God previously telling him he would not enter into the Promised Land. The idea of a human challenging God may seem shocking, however this is not the first time in Torah that God is asked to reverse a decision. In the book of Exodus, upon descending from Mt. Sinai to see the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf, Moses begs God "let not Your anger, O God, blaze forth against Your people" (Exodus 32:11). Moses then makes a case for saving Israel, after which the Torah records "And God renounced the punishment planned for God's people" (Exodus 32:14). Similarly, in Genesis, after God tells Abraham Soddom and Gomorrah will be destroyed, Abraham pleads that God reconsiders.
Our Torah describes a God who tolerates a level of critique and even listens to human suggestion. Armed with this awareness, Moses beseeches God in this week's parsha, asking, "Let me, I pray, cross over and see the good land [of Israel] on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country, and the Lebanon" (Deuteronomy 3:25).
However, in this instance God reacts differently than in the previous examples. Rather than reconsider Moses' ban on entering the Land of Israel, God responds, "Enough! Never speak to Me of this matter again!" (Deuteronomy 3:26) Clearly God is not interested in listening to Moses' plea. What makes this case different?
One answer has to do with context. In the two previous examples, Moses and Abraham beseeched God on behalf of people other than themselves and in both cases God responded favorably. We learn from this that advocacy may be more effective when our own self-interests are not at stake. In the case this week, the only person that would benefit from God's reconsideration was Moses.
There is another possible explanation for God's heated response. Moses found himself in this position of requesting divine redress because of his own previous error. Earlier in the Exodus, God instructed Moses to provide for the Israelites by ordering a rock to produce water. Moses disobeyed and instead struck the rock with his staff. God reacted by saying, "Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them" (Numbers 20:12).
While Moses offered an eloquent plea for God's mercy, we can learn something from what Moses did not say. Moses never apologized. Rashi explains the gravity of the sin: by striking at the rock rather than speaking to it, the Israelites believed the miracle came from Moses. Had he spoken to it, as he was commanded, God "would have been sanctified before the eyes of the assembly."[ii]
In the book of Numbers, we learn that all people, no matter their greatness, make mistakes. This week, we learn how to move beyond them. It is impossible to say whether a sincere apology would have swayed God's mind. Perhaps the judgment would have remained, or perhaps Moses would have lived to step into the Promised Land. As we begin preparing for the High Holidays, let us use Moses as a reminder for our own actions. Let us think of the apologies we owe from the last year and years past. Finally, let us take solace that even the most righteous among us are not perfect. Conversely, our imperfections are no barrier to achieving greatness.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Aaron Rozovsky
Director of Rabbinical Services
[i] Deuteronomy Rabbah
[ii] Rashi to Numbers 20:12
© 2019 Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life
This week's Taste of Torah comes from our archives and was written by Rabbi Jeremy Simons.
Moses sets a high bar when it comes to accomplishments. After spending a few years finding himself in the wilderness, Moses leads an entire nation to freedom in such a way that "never again did there arise a prophet like Moses" (Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses was great enough that upon his death, God "spoke up, saying 'Who will rise up for Me in behalf of evildoers? Who will rise up in Israel's behalf at the time of My anger?'"[i] Our tradition was worthy enough that even God mourned his death. Yet, as we are reminded this week, Moses was not perfect.
This week's Torah portion Va'etchanan, begins with Moses pleading to God, asking that he be allowed to enter into the land of Israel across the Jordan River, despite God previously telling him he would not enter into the Promised Land. The idea of a human challenging God may seem shocking, however this is not the first time in Torah that God is asked to reverse a decision. In the book of Exodus, upon descending from Mt. Sinai to see the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf, Moses begs God "let not Your anger, O God, blaze forth against Your people" (Exodus 32:11). Moses then makes a case for saving Israel, after which the Torah records "And God renounced the punishment planned for God's people" (Exodus 32:14). Similarly, in Genesis, after God tells Abraham Soddom and Gomorrah will be destroyed, Abraham pleads that God reconsiders.
Our Torah describes a God who tolerates a level of critique and even listens to human suggestion. Armed with this awareness, Moses beseeches God in this week's parsha, asking, "Let me, I pray, cross over and see the good land [of Israel] on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country, and the Lebanon" (Deuteronomy 3:25).
However, in this instance God reacts differently than in the previous examples. Rather than reconsider Moses' ban on entering the Land of Israel, God responds, "Enough! Never speak to Me of this matter again!" (Deuteronomy 3:26) Clearly God is not interested in listening to Moses' plea. What makes this case different?
One answer has to do with context. In the two previous examples, Moses and Abraham beseeched God on behalf of people other than themselves and in both cases God responded favorably. We learn from this that advocacy may be more effective when our own self-interests are not at stake. In the case this week, the only person that would benefit from God's reconsideration was Moses.
There is another possible explanation for God's heated response. Moses found himself in this position of requesting divine redress because of his own previous error. Earlier in the Exodus, God instructed Moses to provide for the Israelites by ordering a rock to produce water. Moses disobeyed and instead struck the rock with his staff. God reacted by saying, "Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them" (Numbers 20:12).
While Moses offered an eloquent plea for God's mercy, we can learn something from what Moses did not say. Moses never apologized. Rashi explains the gravity of the sin: by striking at the rock rather than speaking to it, the Israelites believed the miracle came from Moses. Had he spoken to it, as he was commanded, God "would have been sanctified before the eyes of the assembly."[ii]
In the book of Numbers, we learn that all people, no matter their greatness, make mistakes. This week, we learn how to move beyond them. It is impossible to say whether a sincere apology would have swayed God's mind. Perhaps the judgment would have remained, or perhaps Moses would have lived to step into the Promised Land. As we begin preparing for the High Holidays, let us use Moses as a reminder for our own actions. Let us think of the apologies we owe from the last year and years past. Finally, let us take solace that even the most righteous among us are not perfect. Conversely, our imperfections are no barrier to achieving greatness.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Aaron Rozovsky
Director of Rabbinical Services
[i] Deuteronomy Rabbah
[ii] Rashi to Numbers 20:12
© 2019 Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life
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