Reflections from Rabbi Ellis

This week we have a double Parsha, Nitzavim and Vayelech. They are the eighth and ninth Parshiot in the book of Devarim, the final book of the Torah.  The two Parshiot form a bridge connecting two thematically diverse parts of the book of Devarim. The first part of this week’s reading finishes the vision of the curses that will befall the Children of Israel in the land of Israel if we fail to live with joy and justice in our land. The reading then shifts to Moshe’s last day and he begins his farewell address to Israel. Moshe’s final address spans the last three Parshiot of the Torah. It’s not easy to say goodbye.

As hard as it is for us to let go of Moshe, it seems it is harder still for him to let go of us. His greatest fear is what will become of his beloved nation when he is gone. He knows that we will not be able to continually live up to the standard that G!d has set for us. He knows this because he has spent the last forty years dealing with the fallout of the Children of Israel breaking G!d’s heart.

Moshe’s fear first and foremost for the Children of Israel is that they will not have a leader who will love the Children of Israel more than he loves himself and as much, or maybe more, than he loves G!d. Previously at the end of Bamidbar, the fourth book of the Torah, Moshe asks G!d for a leader who fills all these roles. G!d picks Yehosha ben Nun and Moshe consecrates him in the eyes of the whole nation of Israel. In our Parsha Moshe once again blesses Yehoshua in the eyes of the whole nation. G!d, who hasn’t spoken once in the whole book of Devarim, tells Moshe that he is going to die and so he needs to install Yehoshua as leader of Israel, and Moshe does. Moshe then blesses Yehoshua a third time just before the end of our Parsha. What’s going on here, why are Moshe and G!d so busy making sure that Yehoshua is blessed in front of the nation?

There is much that is not written in the Torah and one thing we don’t know is how the nation reacted to Yehoshua’s selection as the next leader of Israel. In the past we have already seen numerous challenges to Moshe’s leadership, and he had G!d’s backing. As Moshe’s days were drawing to a close many people and factions started making plans for who should lead the nation next. They threw parties and held meetings to create coalitions and position themselves to take the helm now that Moshe’s days were numbered. Were they fit to lead? They thought so. Were they able to put the needs of the nation before their own, were they willing to make their lives a tool to serve the Children of Israel? G!d and Moshe’s dizzying and emphatic acts of choosing and supporting Yehoshua in this week’s Parsha give us clear answer. There are many people who want to rule Israel, but few able or willing to lead. Yehoshua was chosen because he saw himself as a servant of Israel and not the nation as a means to fulfill his goals.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yehoshua Ellis