Renewal of the covenant
"Shabbat Shalom!" Weekly Teaching by Ron Wexler
Renewal of the covenant
This week’s teaching is from a portion in the book of Deuteronomy, verses 29:9 – 31:30.
On the last day of his life, Moses gathered together every member of the Jewish people, from the most exalted, to the lowest, old and young, men and women, and initiated them for the last time into the covenant of God. What was new about this covenant was the concept of responsibility for one another, under which every Jew is obligated to help others observe the Torah and restrain them from violating it. This is why Moses began by enumerating all the different status of people who stood before him, and why he said that God would not hold him responsible for sins that had been done secretly, but that they would be liable for transgressions committed openly. This is essential to the world view of the Jew; for it explains why one may not be apathetic to the short comings of others and why public desecrations of the Torah are the concern of every Jew of good conscious.
According to the sages, when the people heard the frightening litany of the curses in the admonition, there seemed to have been a hopeless future for them. Moses comforted them, saying that despite all the sins of the past; they were still standing before God. Just as he had not discarded them before, so He would maintain them in the future. Fear of admonition would prevent them from sinning, and if they did sin, the punishments would bring them attainment, not destruction.
Rabbi Ressler in his “Dvar” commentary captured this moment in history: It was the morning of the 7th of Jewish month of Adar. No one has slept this past night knowing that this was to be Moses last day. All night long, in silent dread, we have stood waiting, crying, and wondering. What will we do? How will we go on? Moses our Teacher is about to die and there is nothing we can do about it! All night long we have been gathered around Moses tent as he instructed the great Joshua. Oh that we have reached this fateful day!
But wait! Joshua is coming out. Look at his face! It seems to glow with a light as bright as the shine of the moon in a dark starry night! What has happened? Where is Moses? Suddenly an expectant hush falls over all of us. There must be more than 3 million people here! Tribal heads, members of the Sanhedrin (Supreme Court), dignitaries, men, women and children.
The great Joshua turns to the tent's entrance and bows his head. There he is! It is Moses! The simple joy and love that emanates from his smile as he looks out upon all of us is magical. Each and every one of us feels the sadness and dread drain away. What regal bearing! What majesty! Even with the veil we can sense the celestial power of his radiance. We must remember this moment!
But wait! It looks like Moses is going to lift the veil. He's about to speak. His voice seems to be carried as if on the wind itself. It's an ageless voice that resonates with the echoes of Sinai. We must listen very carefully. There are his final words; today is Moses final day. And so this is how this reading portion begins... "Today you are all standing... your leaders, your law enforcers, every Israelite man, your children, your women, even your wood cutters and water carriers." (29:9)
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Wexler
President/ CEO
Ten Commandments Commissionwww.TenCommandmentsCommission.org
Renewal of the covenant
This week’s teaching is from a portion in the book of Deuteronomy, verses 29:9 – 31:30.
On the last day of his life, Moses gathered together every member of the Jewish people, from the most exalted, to the lowest, old and young, men and women, and initiated them for the last time into the covenant of God. What was new about this covenant was the concept of responsibility for one another, under which every Jew is obligated to help others observe the Torah and restrain them from violating it. This is why Moses began by enumerating all the different status of people who stood before him, and why he said that God would not hold him responsible for sins that had been done secretly, but that they would be liable for transgressions committed openly. This is essential to the world view of the Jew; for it explains why one may not be apathetic to the short comings of others and why public desecrations of the Torah are the concern of every Jew of good conscious.
According to the sages, when the people heard the frightening litany of the curses in the admonition, there seemed to have been a hopeless future for them. Moses comforted them, saying that despite all the sins of the past; they were still standing before God. Just as he had not discarded them before, so He would maintain them in the future. Fear of admonition would prevent them from sinning, and if they did sin, the punishments would bring them attainment, not destruction.
Rabbi Ressler in his “Dvar” commentary captured this moment in history: It was the morning of the 7th of Jewish month of Adar. No one has slept this past night knowing that this was to be Moses last day. All night long, in silent dread, we have stood waiting, crying, and wondering. What will we do? How will we go on? Moses our Teacher is about to die and there is nothing we can do about it! All night long we have been gathered around Moses tent as he instructed the great Joshua. Oh that we have reached this fateful day!
But wait! Joshua is coming out. Look at his face! It seems to glow with a light as bright as the shine of the moon in a dark starry night! What has happened? Where is Moses? Suddenly an expectant hush falls over all of us. There must be more than 3 million people here! Tribal heads, members of the Sanhedrin (Supreme Court), dignitaries, men, women and children.
The great Joshua turns to the tent's entrance and bows his head. There he is! It is Moses! The simple joy and love that emanates from his smile as he looks out upon all of us is magical. Each and every one of us feels the sadness and dread drain away. What regal bearing! What majesty! Even with the veil we can sense the celestial power of his radiance. We must remember this moment!
But wait! It looks like Moses is going to lift the veil. He's about to speak. His voice seems to be carried as if on the wind itself. It's an ageless voice that resonates with the echoes of Sinai. We must listen very carefully. There are his final words; today is Moses final day. And so this is how this reading portion begins... "Today you are all standing... your leaders, your law enforcers, every Israelite man, your children, your women, even your wood cutters and water carriers." (29:9)
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Wexler
President/ CEO
Ten Commandments Commissionwww.TenCommandmentsCommission.org
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