The Longest Day

^{22 Elul 5780 l September 11, 2020}

Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech

Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe

Class of 2017

If you knew that tomorrow was the last day of your life - what would you choose to do today?

Rav Eliyahu KiTov describes Moshe’s last day in his book Sefer HaParshiot, drawing on classic commentaries and midrashim. Even after completing everything God asked him to do, Moshe’s commitment to Bnei Yisrael did not falter. Moshe put the people’s needs first, in spite of his own intense disappointment and sadness that he would not be leading them into Canaan.

Following the events we read in Ki Tavo last Shabbat, Rav KiTov describes what Moshe did on his last day drawing on the verses in Nitzavim-VaYelech, the double-parshiyot for this Shabbat.

In a form of hak-hel Moshe gathered all of the Israelites: men, women, children and gerim (strangers) to continue his farewell speech and deliver his final charge to the nation. His voice somehow carried through the throngs of people and reached the ear of every man, woman and child!

Parshat Nitzavim concludes with Moshe’s teaching the nation the last two remaining mitzvot: hak-hel and writing a Sefer Torah.

The words that open Parshat VaYelech are puzzling.

Where did Moshe go? If Moshe had completed God’s mandate to teach the Torah, what words did he need to add?

Ramban (Nachmanadies) explains that after gathering together as a nation, everyone dispersed and went back to their tents. Moshe went from the Levite camp to the Israelite camp to honor them, as one who approaches a dear friend to say good-bye.

Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch expands on this thought. Moshe went alone to the nation, taking his leave of them in a simple manner as a most modest man.

Rav KiTov describes the scene: Moshe went from tent to tent, from family to family, and from tribe to tribe, speaking to each one privately according to their own level of understanding. How well he knew his flock! Moshe went into each tent alone, but upon leaving, he was escorted out by the family. The Israelites were reluctant to say a final good-bye to Moshe. "קשה עליהם פרידתו!" "His leavetaking was hard for them."

S’forno views Moshe’s actions through a pastoral lens. He explains that "וילך משה" - "and Moshe went" is a language of התעוררות - self-awakening. In S’forno’s words: “After having concluded the matter of the covenant between God and this second generation of Israelites, Moshe now proceeds to comfort the people about his impending death. Moshe did not want the sorrow over his passing to diminish the joy that was felt upon reaffirming the covenant with God.”

Moshe recognized that the nation had a fear of the future. He told them (Deut 31:6):

חזקו ואמצו אל תיראו - "Be strong and of good courage, do not be frightened". He reassured them that Yehoshua would be an able leader who would take them in and help them conquer the Land of Canaan. Yehoshua would be with them and God would be with them.

Moshe then turned his mind to his successor. After reassuring the Israelites, he now needed to reassure and encourage Yehoshua to take heart. Moshe officially appointed Yehoshua as the new leader in front of the nation, using similar words of encouragement and good cheer:

חזק ואמץ: "Be strong and of good courage".

But his day was not over yet.

Moshe was instructed to write the whole Torah from Breishit till the end of Devarim. It was as if his finger was God’s finger. He gave this Torah to Yehoshua and the priests and the elders who were to be the spiritual vanguard of the mitzvot. He instructed them on their role in preserving and safeguarding the ways of the Torah.

Moshe then took Yehoshua to the Ohel Mo’ed - the Tent of Meeting. God then instructed both of them to write the shir - poem - of Parashat Ha’azinu and teach it to the Israelites.

Finally Moshe’s last day was drawing to a close.

The choices that we make are the building blocks of the legacy that we leave behind. Moshe took care of all the tasks that God mandated yet, as a great leader, Moshe chose to go further and address the spiritual and emotional needs of the nation. He did not shy away from the emotions of the people. He offered them closure on his passing, and hope for the future.

We have an beautiful ancient teaching which connects Moshe’s comforting of each family to a verse at the very end of the Torah:

Going from tent to tent, reaching out to each family personally to say good-bye pierced each person’s heart and left sparks of Moshe within. These sparks are with us to this very day.

That is why the Torah says in Deut 34:6 -

It is not necessary for us to know exactly where Moshe is buried.

A spark of Moshe’s soul resides in the heart of every Jew.