This week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeilech,
is the last parsha where we see Moshe in his role as leader. In fact, we see in
the beginning of the parsha that Hashem removed Moshe’s authority at this time.
While Parshiyos Haazinu and Vezos Habracha are blessings and advice to the
nation as a whole, Vayeilech is the last time we see Moshe operating on an
individual level.
The clearest instance of this is Moshe’s
advice to his prime student and the new leader of Bnei Yisrael, Yehoshua. The
pasuk says, “וַיִּקְרָ֨א משֶׁ֜ה לִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר
אֵלָ֜יו לְעֵינֵ֣י כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ חֲזַ֣ק וֶֽאֱמָץ֒ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תָּבוֹא֙
אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ” “And Moshe called to Yehoshua and said to him before the
eyes of all Yisrael, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall come with this
people to the Land” (Devarim 31:7). The Kli Yakar asks three questions on
the language of this pasuk. First, what does it mean that Moshe spoke in front
of the eyes of Yisrael, why didn’t it say simply “in front of Yisrael?”
Secondly, why does he need to tell Yehoshua to be strong and courageous, won’t Hashem
provide him with the strength needed to bring Yisrael into the Land? Lastly,
later on when Hashem speaks to Yehoshua directly (See 31:23), He tells him that
he will bring the nation into Eretz Yisrael, while Moshe tells Yehoshua
he will come with them into the Land. Why the difference in language?
He explains that this
interaction is really a way for the teacher to tell the student how to avoid his
same mistakes. Moshe’s error is well-known; Hashem had commanded him to speak
to the rock to make water come out, which was intended to show Bnei Yisrael the
power of Tefillah and cause them to have greater faith in Hashem. Instead, Moshe
hit the rock and deprived the nation of this faith-building exercise, and as a
result, he was deemed unworthy to lead the people into the Land. However, this
exercise was really intended for the lesser part of Bnei Yisrael, the people
who had weaker levels of faith; the episode of the rock was not-applicable to
most people. Nevertheless, since all types of people would be going into Eretz
Yisrael, Moshe was unable to bring in even those with strong faith.
Moshe was teaching Yehoshua to take notice of
these different types of people. There would be all kinds of people coming into
Eretz Yisrael, and it was Yehoshua’s obligation to lead all of them. Therefore,
he had to be ‘strong and courageous,’ meaning, he had to consistently provide
them with faith-building exercises, either miraculous or natural. When he did
these exercises, he had to remember that he was ‘in front of the eyes of
Yisrael,’ they would all be watching him closely and learn from exactly what he
did. If he was successful in this, then he would succeed where Moshe had
failed, and be able to come with the nation into Eretz Yisrael.
This parsha takes place on the last day
of Moshe’s life. Even at the very end, he was still proactive and totally
focused on what was best for the Bnei Yisrael. This week is the Aseres Yimei
Teshuvah, our last chance before Yom Kippur to correct any wrongs we can. Like
Moshe, we cannot waste these last days; we must do our best to improve before
this uniquely opportunistic time ends.
Shabbat Shalom!
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