Miryam's Space

Va’etchanan 2021 Sources page

It’s good to have goals. Perhaps you share some of mine. On a personal level, to make it through each day with as much grace as possible . A bit longer term goal of a successful term, graduation, smicha one day G!d willing. Longer term, I share with many of you, the goal of nudging the world to be a bit more just, and kind. And then Life happens Stuff gets in the way. Sometimes my default response to obstacles is “oh no!!” at which pointTorah proceeds to collide with and inform my life.

The parasha is Va’etchanan, meaning “and he asked for an extra dose of Grace” – Chen/Chanun. our hero Moses is pleading with G*d.

“Let me please cross over and see the good land on the other side of the Jordan,”

G*d’s answer to Moses is NO!  Oh the frustration!

The midrash compares Moses to a woman who was courted by the King to marry him and then he dumps her – just as they’re at the Promised land. I imagine Moses saying: I’ve worked so hard, G*d, this 40 day journey that took 40 years!  Must I die just before the happy ending? 

The Ohr HaChayim explains:  it’s Joshua’s time, and these are lifetime appointments . Another compensation -when Moses lifts his eyes to see the land G’d would allow the vision of his eyes to fulfill his dreams. (Which kind of reminds me of all the zoom weddings, and b’ nei mitzvahs we saw during COVID. Oy!)

The reason that G!d gives for denying Moses entry is fascinating: RAV L’CHAH: you have so much! Rashi says it means Moses will get more in the after-life. I disagree, and imagine I conversation I might have with Moses: “Dude you’re talking to the Creative force of the Universe, at this very moment! Wrapped in holiness and love, connecting heaven to earth, teaching Torah such as  “love your near one as Yourselves”, the envy of any spiritual seeker. YOU’RE ALREADY THERE, there can be no higher destination!”

Last week we read that Caleb was allowed entry to the land, because he remained fulfilled after his G*d encounter.  Last Shabbat, we read Isaiah’s vision that the whole earth was filled with G*d’s Glory, that we should see and cherish the holiness of the world, and then work to make it true. So instead of panicking at a challenge, I took a deep breath, I quieted my mind. I felt I was surrounded by Love and Truth, part of an infinite One-ness that is G*d. What a gift this seeking and then feeling and sharing!  Like Moses, I was already there! Where can we find this breath and quiet to find our way? These answers for me lie in the parashah. The first is Shabbat, a time to exhale our worries, a day to stop our acquiring and just be free. 

The second is : Shema Yisrael: Listen up You G!d wrestlers: V’ahavta we shall love, we are here to add our love to the world. And coincidentally, tomorrow night begins tuB’av  the holiday of Love, and ultimate joy.  And yet, it’s good to have goals, and it hurts not to reach our goals.

To my friend who died too young did not live to see her brilliant daughter graduate, to so many like her I can only offer the following:

the time is short, the work is great. Pirkei avot tells us– We may not get to finish the work, but the Shema teaches that we can add more love to our little part of the world, with the time we have. Speaking only For myself, knowing tomorrow is not guaranteed, scary as that is, has liberated me to follow my heart’s dream. My blessing for you: may you love, be liberated, take a deep breath, and know, whether you meet your goals or fall short: Rav L’chah, or Rav Lach you have so much!