Closing Remarks

This can also be read in the Jewish Star

Parshat Ki Savo

by Rabbi Avi Billet

My grandmother gets “nachas” from reading this weekly dvar Torah. She told me a few times that one of the things she enjoys doing when reading her weekly fix is to skip to the end and read the last paragraph first. It makes sense – that’s where the crux of the message is usually embedded. And knowing me as well as she does, she enjoys hearing her grandson’s voice come off the page in a style she has known my whole life.

This week the closing paragraph is not my language, so perhaps my Babi will not “shep” the same nachas. But I trust Moshe Rabbeinu’s words will provide a similar zinger to get her heart pumping.

How Biblical characters finish their important speeches is an amazing phenomenon to consider. What are the last words they say, with what message do they leave their intended audience?

Perhaps King Solomon did it best in Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) when, after a roller coaster of emotions, ranging from complete despair and disillusionment to fits of happiness, Solomon famously concludes, “The end of the matter, after all is heard, is that one should fear G-d and observe His commandments, for that is what humanity is all about.”

The haftorah of Parshat Balak ends on a similar note, with the words of the prophet Micha (6:8): “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-d.”

And in our parsha, we have Moshe.

The book of Devarim is divided into a few sections, but the largest one is unquestionably Moshe’s farewell address that spans from chapter 5 through chapter 26. You will not find an instruction from G-d or the word “vayomer” (and he said) because it is all one big speech.

Regarding Moshe’s final message in this section, a series of four verses that are grouped together as the third aliyah in Ki Tavo, Rabbi J.H. Hertz writes, “Such is the glorious distinction in store for an Israel that is obedient and loyal. The idea is elaborated in 28:10, ‘And all the people of the earth shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon thee…’ See Exodus 19:6 ‘And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch expands on this with a similar idea: “Israel belongs exclusively to Him [G-d], no other power has dominion over Israel… Once it has proven itself a faithful guardian of His law, [the people Israel] will be given a place in world history far above all the other nations He has created… Israel’s appearance shall be for G-d as a name… it shall make known G-d’s name, for Israel walks among the nations with the book of His revealed laws and teachings in its hand… Israel must be a holy nation committed only to what is morally good and pleasing in G-d’s sight, and this duty devolves on every one of its members. Thus, if Israel should ever betray its sacred mission, the smallest child from the other nations of the world could remind it of its mission and of its duty.”

One gets goose bumps reading these things. And a little antsy – what is it that Moshe says when he finishes his big speech? What is his final thought before changing the subject of the last 21 chapters leading into his tying up all loose ends in the final chapters of the Torah? Perhaps, we can all think, if we were to give a four-sentence closing statement trying to sell Judaism, and more importantly a Torah lifestyle, how would we do it?

Here is Moshe’s parting thought as he leaves the podium from his “last lecture.” (see here and the text from this lecture)

“Today G-d your Lord is commanding you to obey all these rules and laws. You must carefully keep them with all your heart and with all your soul. Today you have declared allegiance to G-d, making Him your G-d and [pledging to] walk in His paths, keep His decrees, commandments and laws, and to obey His voice. G-d has similarly declared allegiance to you today, making you His special nation as He promised you. If you keep all His commandments, He will make you the highest of all the nations He brought into existence, for praise, fame and glory (yours? His?). You will remain a nation consecrated to G-d your Lord, as He promised.”

Wow.