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And Moshe went. (31:1)

Moshe went.  From where did he come, and to where did he go?  The pasuk does not address these simple questions.  He simply went!  Horav S.Y. Levin, zl, distinguishes between amidah, standing still, and halichah, walking/moving.  Each one has its own advantage according to the situation.  Moving forward is beneficial, as long as one goes in the right direction.  If one has a prescribed course and he maintains it, then the more he walks, the closer he moves to his destination.  In such a situation,  moving is obviously more advantageous than standing still.  Conversely, when one is lost — or…

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(The) Life and death I have set before you, the blessing and the curse; therefore/and you (should) choose life. (30:19)

The Mirrer Mashgiach, Horav Yechezkel Levinstein, zl,  was known as a person who approached  mitzvah performance with enthusiasm and exuberance.  His vitality and vigor did not  wane even as he advanced in age.  He truly  embodied  the pasuk in Tehillim 92, “A righteous man will flourish like a date palm…They will be fruitful in old age, vigorous and fresh they will be.”  Each of his tefillos, prayers, were the result of a unique rejuvenation.  Each mussar lecture was a new experience.  To listen to him was to share in the re-invigoration of his spirit.  No aspect  of his spiritual ritual …

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It will be when all these things come upon you…then you will take it unto your heart…and you will return unto Hashem… Hashem…will place all these curses upon your enemies…and you shall return… When you will listen to Hashem your G-D…when you shall return to Hashem your G-D, with all your heart and all your soul. (30:1-2,7-8,10)

Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, zl, infers three levels of teshuvah, repentance, from the sequence of the pesukim.   The lowest  rung on the ladder of repentance is the teshuvah that emerges as a result of experiencing punishment.  After all, you do not find many non-believers  in the hospital!  The pain has  begun;  the punishment is imminent.  The reality of his wrong-doing is readily apparent.  Indeed, only the obstinate and arrogant will continue to  refrain from performing teshuvah.  “It will be when all these things come upon you,” as it begins to hurt – it is now efficacious to perform teshuvah. The middle…

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“And by all the strong hand and awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael.” (34:12)

This last pasuk in the Torah is also Moshe Rabbeinu’s epitaph. It is a tribute to Klal Yisrael’s quintessential leader and Rebbe. Rashi explains that “yad chazakah,” strong hand, refers to the luchos which Moshe received on Har Sinai in his hands. He shattered these luchos “before the eyes of all Yisrael.” He took it upon himself to perform this courageous deed, an act which was affirmed by Hashem. Why does this act serve as such a great testimonial to Moshe’s character of leadership? Is it more critical than his role in the exodus from Egypt and the ensuing forty…

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“And He buried him in Gai.” (34:6)

Rashi explains that Moshe was buried personally by Hashem. In the Talmud Sotah 14 Chazal remark how the final activity in the Torah is an act of chesed, loving-kindness.  They reflect upon the fact that the Torah begins with an act of chesed, Hashem clothing Adam and Chavah, and closes with Hashem burying Moshe. This is why the Torah is referred to as Toras Chesed, the Torah of loving-kindness. The Maharsha explains that Chazal are describing the true nature of Torah as the ultimate source of chesed.  Every commandment has its source in the development of chesed. The Me’il Tzedakkah…

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“(The) Torah (that) Moshe commanded us (is) the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

Chazal expound upon the concept of Torah as an inheritance. Horav Mordechai Gifter, Shlita, differentiates between an inheritance which belongs to the heirs to transform as they please and a heritage which is to be transmitted to the next generation in its entirety. Reflecting this idea, parents have a demanding responsibility to transmit to their children the whole Torah excluding their own commentary and personal opinions. The Torah in its pristine form is the inalienable right of our children. To deny them this right is more than an infringement upon the right of possession. Rather, it is an impingement upon…

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“For Hashem’s portion is His people, Yaakov his measured inheritance.” (32:9)

Klal Yisrael became a nation while still in the desert — without a land to live in. Hashem did not permit His people to grow as a nation under the influence of the land of Egypt and its inhabitants. “For Hashem’s portion is His people.” This people was to be and remain “the people of Hashem.” Horav S.R.  Hirsch z.l.  explains that common nations are linked to the soil of their land in the same manner that Am Yisrael is linked to Hashem.  Other nations view their land as the foundation of their national existence.  It serves as the home…

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“Remember the days of old, consider the years of each generation.” (32:7)

The concept of history encompasses the perception that all events in the human experience are part of one long continuum.  The Chumash begins with the story of Brias Ha’olam, creation, since that is the “genesis” of all historical events. Hashem is the G-d of creation and the G-d of history.  He is the moral power whose Divine action guides world events. The Jewish “historian” sees Hashem’s Hand reflected in every aspect of history.  He sees the continuous revelation of Hashem’s plan spanning the abyss of time.  Everything has meaning.  No right goes unrewarded, and no wrong goes without its due…

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“Is corruption His, no; His children’s is the blemish… Is it to Hashem that you do this… Is He not your father your master?” (32:5,6)

The commentators explain the text of the pasuk in the following manner. Although an individual may defer to his own spiritual shortcomings, he, nonetheless, desires that his children proceed in the proper path.  Regrettably, the concept of “do as I say, not as I do” has almost become a way of life for some people. Parents must be aware that they serve as the primary role models for their children.  When these parents are questioned regarding their hypocritical behavior, their response is, “We personally have no proclivity to be observant, but we want our children to be G- d fearing…

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“May my teaching drop like rain, may my utterance flow like the dew.” (32:2)

Water is used as a metaphor to describe Torah. Just as every person must have water in order to be sustained, Torah sustains Klal Yisrael. Without Torah, there is no substance to Klal Yisrael.  Horav Mordechai Ilan z.l. suggests the following analogy between water and Torah. Human beings have had no input to the creation of water. It has the same essence and makeup that existed at the dawn of creation. It has maintained its unaltered state throughout time. In contrast, the earth has undergone changes as a result of mans’ participation in its development. The Torah has similarly maintained…

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