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Show Notes
Devarim (33:1 to 34:12) marks the end of the Torah and the mission of the great leader Moshe Rabenu, at the gates of the Land of Israel, where he sadly wasn't able to fulfill his dream of entering and living in Israel. Elohim makes him climb Mount Nevo to see the land, but he won't set foot on it. Moshe was punished for disobeying HaShem's orders to speak to the rock, which he struck instead. Our Sages came up with all kinds of explanations as to why Moshe reacted like that, but nothing was useful to a leader like him.
"Uvemeurabai Etkadesh", which translates as "And those who are near me, with them I will be different." As a good leader, Moshe can't say goodbye without first blessing the people. He reminds the Children of Israel of the greatest gift he could give them in his forty years as leader: the Torah. He entrusted us with the Torah, which is an inheritance for the community of Yaacov. This was in Yeshurun (People of Israel), with the representatives of the people meeting, the Tribes of Israel together. This is how Moshe tells us what happened. Moshe brought us the Torah, but it's an inheritance that belongs to us. The more we accept the Torah, the more we proclaim that HaShem is reigning on Earth. That can only happen when our leaders unite and we all feel together. It's not like unity among the people of Israel is a necessity, like it might be for any other people. It's just part of who they are. The Talmud says that during the time of King Ahab when the people had turned away from the commandments of the Torah, the People of Israel enjoyed a time of greater peace and success than ever before because they were united. It's good and pleasant when brothers are united. Where the Torah ends, it begins again because it has no end. It's about the person. Just as marriage is symbolized by a simple ring with no beginning or end, because each generation is one more link that unites the previous generation with the next, the Torah unites the generations. The last day of Sukkot is called Simcha Torah, which means the joy of Torah. Our Sages said that there is no space except within joy. This is because joy is the catalyst for events. The Torah is the guide to these events.