We begin a new book of the Torah this week - the book of Devarim. Devarim means ‘words,’ and this book gets its name from the first verse: “These are the words that Moshe addressed to all of Israel…” Essentially, the entire book of Devarim is a speech from Moshe to the Israelites. In these many, many words, Moshe reminds the Israelites of their past, starting with their encounter with God at Sinai. In his final speech prior to his death, Moshe passionately addresses his people.
Yet, I am reminded that one of the first things we ever learn about Moshe, decades ago, is that he is not a confident speaker. When God came to Moshe at the Burning Bush, Moshe tried to reject the task God chose him for because he wasn’t good with words. He was reluctant to speak to Pharaoh and the Israelites because he was “slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10). But it seems like Moshe has overcome what once debilitated him, and he now stands before his people imparting his final messages. He demonstrates the importance of growth and overcoming challenges not just in the fact that he speaks so many words, but in the content of speech as well.
Moshe recalls that he had to learn important leadership skills in order to be effective; he had to delegate and rely on others for his own growth. He reminds the people that they had tremendous fear about what the land would offer them when the spies returned to the community. And Moshe reminds the people that throughout their wanderings in the Wilderness, there have been challenges with other nations. They clashed and fought and won and lost.
The Torah employs a subtle method to remind us that Moshe navigated and transformed one of the most difficult challenges for him, his use of speech. But he wasn’t always a great speaker and he still didn’t always use his words the way he should have. In the same way that, while Moshe is giving a speech, the Torah reminds Moshe that talking was not always easy for him, Moshe reminds the Israelites that they’ve endured challenges and will continue to experience them.
All of this happens as the Israelites are, after 40 years, about to enter the Promised Land. Their future is touchable. Before they get there and attempt to conquer the land, Moshe must remind them of their past. He was able to overcome his difficulties, and now as a leader, Moshe is trying to prepare them for their next big challenge as they prepare for their own growth as a nation. Their prior struggles are not entirely behind them, they are embedded within them as a people and will be a part of their future. Endured difficulty is a part of his, and their, story.
Bolstered by the growth of our past, aided by our knowledge that we have engaged with previous struggles, we are given the fortitude to march forward. It’s not just for the purpose of knowing where we’ve come from, it’s for the reminder that we’ve been through trials, some that we succeeded in and some we didn’t, but they all will be a part of our future.
Being in sight of the Promised Land, even with the knowledge that their hardships aren’t over, give them an anchor for hope. It provides them with vision. May we be blessed with that type of vision; may we each find those anchors for hope.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Sarit
We will NOT be having services at shul this Shabbat. I hope you will join Abe and me for Hachanah l’Shabbat (Preparing for Shabbat at 6:30PM this evening). Click that link to connect on Zoom!
Please click here for the Youtube playlist with davening and teaching I’ve prepared for this Shabbat (it will be uploaded before Shabbat).
Please check out our website for some Shabbat-related learning resources.
