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“And Moshe went up from the western plains of Moav to Mount Nevo.” (34:1)

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  Rashi explains that there were many steps to traverse, but Moshe covered that distance with one step. It seems strange that Moshe in the last few moments of his existence would seek to expedite his demise. How did he permit himself to cover that distance in seconds? Had he delayed even a few moments, he may have had the opportunity to perform another mitzvah, or to review another halacha.

Is it possible that because of his devotion to honoring and adoring the mitzvah that he would hasten his death? If that is true we can then extrapolate the importance of alacrity in performing Hashem’s mitzvos. It is not merely another ingredient in the recipe of performing a mitzvah. Rather, it is an inherent component of the actual mitzvah. A mitzvah which is not performed with enthusiasm is missing part of its essence as commanded by Hashem. Therefore, Moshe quickly embraced the opportunity to perform this last mitzvah even if it meant losing a few precious moments of his life. Since he was commanded to go up on the mountain, then this command included quickening his pace even at the expense of shortening his life.

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