Parshat Vayelekh
by Rabbi Avi Billet
The opening verse of Parshat Vayelekh describes how Moshe Rabbenu went around to all of Israel to tell them his final messages. Continuing the introduction, Rashi notes that the possibility that Moshe is unable to go out because of his aging. Rashi rejects this, however, because the Torah will soon tell us that Moshe’s age didn’t slow him down. (per Devarim 34:7)
Then Rashi offers two alternative explanations:
1. I am unable because God has given my position to Yehoshua
2. He is unable to go out and come with Divrei Torah since the depth and wells of Torah have become closed off to him
The first answer makes sense. God has put Moshe into retirement, and he has accepted his fate. Yehoshua will be taking over, and there can’t be two leaders – especially if one of them is Moshe – at the same time.
The second answer makes no sense. Rashi is suggesting that Moshe, “whose eyes haven’t dimmed and whose steps haven’t faltered” is having a memory lapse? He can’t think as deeply as he did before?
Sotah 13b (noted by Sifsei Chachamim, Ramban and others) is the source for this idea, and it means to tell us that yes, Moshe slowed down a little in the cognitive arena (or didn't have the depth he had had in the past), so that he would not feel the slight of Yehoshua taking over. Even though Moshe had no ego, that part of his brain was better off not processing what was taking place.
Perhaps this demonstrates that if a time comes when a person isn’t fully aware of what’s going on, there’s a blessing hidden in what seems to be difficult or painful. Everyone wants to be “sharp as a tack” until 120. Maybe this is a way to see that when near the end, being less aware is a blessing, so a person doesn’t realize (and fear) that the end is near.
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Alternatively, Kli Yakar notes that even as Moshe said, "I am unable to go out and come back," he was proving through his ability to walk to ALL OF ISRAEL that his "inability" wasn't due to a physical incapacity. It was only because God denied him the permission to continue to do so. After all, since Yehoshua would now be the leader, it would be entirely unsuitable for Moshe to still be around.
It is amazing to consider, in this light, how Moshe went around to all of Israel to share his final message.
In Dvash V'Halav (as recorded in Itturei Torah) the author notes the fascinating change in how the people perceived Moshe. At one of the first major challenges in his leadership, the lack of water at Rephidim, he said to God "A little more and they will stone me."
Yet, later on, when the people knew that his death would be attached to certain events, they sought to delay indefinitely. In Parshat Mattos, Moshe's demise is connected to the aftermath of the war with Midian. "Avenge Bnei Yisrael from the Midianites, and afterwards you will die." The Bnei Yisrael wanted to delay the war. Moshe said, "Absolutely not! We must fight this war now."
Based on the teaching at the end of the Talmud in Makkos, there is a tradition based on the verse תורה צוה לנו משה, that Moshe was to have taught 611 of the commandments, per the numerical value (gematria) of the word תורה (Torah) which is 611. The other 2 (of the famous 613) were to have been taught by God, who declared the first 2 of the Ten Commandments (there are different opinions about this, but that is the assumption made by that teaching).
Since there are 2 Mitzvos in this parsha, and Moshe hasn't taught them yet, the fact that Moshe had gathered the people in Nitzavim, and that they are not with him now, stands to suggest that the people went home, and did not want to hear Moshe tell the final 2 mitzvos. This may indicate that they felt "If we don't hear them from him, he won't have taught us 611 (until now he's only taught us 609), and therefore he won't die - his life mission hasn't been fulfilled!
Moshe therefore went to everybody to teach them, and to make sure that his life mission WOULD be fulfilled, as expeditiously as possible.
This shows a few things.
His life was dedicated to teaching Torah
His life was dedicated to serving God
His own life was unimportant in comparison to the mission God had given him
He did his own walking - even at age 120 (probably covered way more than 10,000 steps on that day!)
He demonstrated, as Targum Yonatan and Targum Yerushalmi put it, that his heart was "in the Beis Medrash."
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Getting to the end of life is not something most of us like to think about. The idea of facing "end of life" with full capacity may arguably be "worth it" if a person is prepared in mind, body, and spirit, to transition to that next stage of existence.
Whether we like the impression Rashi leaves us with - that Moshe was not on the same level he had been on; or we like the impression Kli Yakar gives - that Moshe hadn't slowed at all, but was just retired by God; or we like the impression of Dvash V'Halav that Moshe was just fulfilling his mission in this world, even if it brought his demise closer, we can imagine that all of these are meritorious in one way or another.
Wishing everyone to be blessed with a full year of LIFE, and GOODNESS, and STRENGTH, and VITALITY.
Shana tovah!
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