Va’etchanan in a Nutshell

That's an interesting perspective and a compelling analogy for the development of the Jewish nation. It makes me wonder: if the Exodus and the wilderness represent our childhood and adolescence, what stage of development are we in today?

As we await the coming of Moshiach, the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash, the ingathering of the exiles, and ultimately world peace, would our current generation be considered middle age, mature adulthood, or perhaps something else entirely? I'm curious how others would extend the analogy. Reply

Quite simply as yet fufilled. So, for this, we labor. Reply

Amen Simcha Bart..There are so many Jews out there now that did not even know they were Jewish but by some miracle their Jewish Ancestry is revealed to them. I am one of those Jews. Right before my mother passed away just 1 hour before she left us she told us Ani Yehudit, I am a Jew. I always new I was different for nothing of Christianity could stick with me. Momma taught us to worship and obey the One True and Living G-d of Israel. So much of Judaism she taught us and we did not even know it. My father would come home early every Friday night and my mother would light the candles we did not even know we were celebrating Shabbat. The Catholic Church forcibly converted my mother and father and they were made to swear before G-d never to reveal their Jewishness and never to return to their Jewish roots.Everything about their lives was a secret, I never even knew my grandparents. There are millions of us out there. Please pray for us for our hearts long to return to our G-d and Israel. Reply

Great interpretation. Moses had a full life and yet just like all of us the light of the soul wants to stay in the body. He is supposed to return as a gilgul as the last messiah to bring that last generation into the promised land. After all it’s a good thing because we may be that generation Reply

Why did G-d say Moshe did not enter the Promise Land.... Have you ever read the Torah? Reply

This is what the Torah says.... Numbers 20...7 Adonai said to Moshe, 8 “Take the staff, assemble the community, you and Aharon your brother; and before their eyes, tell the rock to produce its water. You will bring them water out of the rock and thus enable the community and their livestock to drink.” 9 Moshe took the staff from the presence of Adonai, as he had ordered him. 10 But after Moshe and Aharon had assembled the community in front of the rock, he said to them, “Listen here, you rebels! Are we supposed to bring you water from this rock?” 11 Then Moshe raised his hand and hit the rock twice with his staff. Water flowed out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank.

12 But Adonai said to Moshe and Aharon, “Because you did not trust in me, so as to cause me to be regarded as holy by the people of Isra’el, you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.” Reply

Hey Lyric! I think the greater point that the author was making is that the Jews are the only people that claim *national* revelation. Other religions have singular points of revelation whereas the entirety of the Jewish people experienced G-d giving them the Torah. Reply

Thanks, Shmuli,

You make a good point about an interesting subject!

I believe that you're correct . . . I admit that I hadn't thought about the issue that way.

Thanks for the clarification. Reply

Was it really a punishment? Perhaps the gilgul neshama of Moshe rebbeinu is Moschiach? Reply

Moses and Eretz Yisrael Hi Ben, I know what you mean. But if you think about it, in a way, this is a metaphor for everyone who we love who dies. In my mind's eye, I can imagine Moses looking out to the promised land. He is old, he is tired -- and he has been dealing with this situation as an eternity of struggle. This includes Aaron and Miriam, his family. But like a grandfather who lays eyes on the birth of his first grandchild, he is happy, he is done. And so his weary bones can rest in happiness. Hashem loved him immensely, and he loved Hashem. Their ultimate togetherness in the Olum Habah, the other world, then, is the blessing of eternal life and happiness and the knowledge that he had fulfilled his mission as G-d desired. I have absolutely no doubt that Hashem grabbed up his beautiful Moses and took him to His immortal world. Blessings. Reply

Because Moshe would have built the temple. anything Moshe builds (ie writing the Torah) will last forever. Since Hashem would not destroy the temple he must destroy the Jewish people. Reply

I completely identify with having this sort of question, and I'd be interested to hear any responses.

The answer I want to tell myself, is that the rewards reaped from their journey and legacy ... they were out of slavery and chosen to be led on such epic spiritual journey, so close to HaShem ... What a gift, right? Moses was chosen to lead, be that messenger.

That said, I think this question is completely valid... The elephant in the the room, so to speak, is the fear that, "Well if HaShem punished Moses so harshly, look at all the sinning I've done... Might as well throw in the towel now." Faith and a shift in perspective, understanding - or even the desire to have such a shift - can turn this Parsha from bleak to true faith and gratitude.

Any responses to this or thoughts? I'm interested Reply

I love this response. Thank you so much for sharing. Reply

I really like this response! Thanks. Reply

A great and higher perspective shared. Thank-you. Reply

You expressed a beautiful reason why God is kind and why meeting Him after a life of devotion to Hashem with a union so sublime and wonderful that Moses was finally able to rest in Paradise and know his life on earth was complete. What a blessing Reply

WOW ! You created a "BEAUTIFUL VISUAL" in my mind !!!!!! I never thought of Moshe's situation like that ! Such a POWERFUL THOUGHT.....Thank You for that ! Reply

Eric <3
I think all of us can relate to a situation where we've suffered but things did not turn out how we expected and we wondered why. Even Moses was human, so he goes to G-d and asks, "Why?" and G-d gives him a reason he can understand when he is still only human, and not yet shed of his earthly body and all the worries and cares we all have because we have what I call Heaven Amnesia. G-d did what was the most loving and merciful thing for his beloved son Moses. Although Moses may not have fully understood it at the time, he accepted it, reminded our people to heed the Lord who loves them, and then joined the eternal love of G-d in Heaven. So are my thoughts :-). Reply

Eric <3
I think all of us can relate to a situation where we've suffered but things did not turn out how we expected and we wondered why. Even Moses was human, so he goes to G-d and asks, "Why?" and G-d gives him a reason he can understand when he is still only human, and not yet shed of his earthly body and all the worries and cares we all have because we have what I call Heaven Amnesia. G-d did what was the most loving and merciful thing for his beloved son Moses. Although Moses may not have fully understood it at the time, he accepted it, reminded our people to heed the Lord who loves them, and then joined the eternal love of G-d in Heaven. So are my thoughts :-). Reply

This is just a thought, engendered by the strange times in which we find ourselves now: the story had to have been told by people who came after Moshe. Might one interpretation of the actual events be that, after his time as an adopted prince, a refugee, after communicating with Hashem, pleading with pharaoh, leading the exodus and the next 40 years, among other things, Moshe - although bitterly upset, and having fulfilled his charge to bring the people to the visible end of their journey - simply passed away?

I'm having trouble fitting Hashem into the role of vindictive destroyer, and I realise that there are many, many ramifications to my suggestion . . . but perhaps it's the hand of the human writing the words, who needed to interpret his hero, Moshe avinu's tragic passing? Reply

is it punishment or the natural way of things? we are taught to avoid touching electricity. when we touch it, we get zapped. is that punishment? no its the way of things, shalom Reply