Torah Talk For Your Shabbos Table Print Before and Share on Shabbos #NoInternetOnShabbos “And I prayed to HaShem at that time, saying...” (Deut. 3:23) This phrase, “at that time,” is used multiple times in Moshe’s final remarks to the Jewish People. Last week, in Parshas Devarim, he said, “And I said ‘at that time’ that I cannot bear you myself.” There is a discussion in the Midrash as to exactly what time that phrase was referring. Here, again, Moshe says, “I prayed to HaShem ‘at that time’ saying…” and it refers to a different time, when he felt it appropriate to daven. For example, the Netziv in Ha’amek Davar says that when the tribes of Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe were being given an inheritance in Trans-Jordan, Moshe recognized the need for Torah study as that would be the antidote for the galus, the long exile which we are now in. He therefore davened to be allowed to enter Israel as there is no Torah like that of the holy land, and especially Yerushalayim which has a special attribute of being able to create and disseminate Torah. There is an amazing message here, one that we should all try to learn and internalize. Moshe was the leader of the generation, the greatest man in the history of the Jewish People. Sometimes he was a warrior, such as when he defeated Sichon and Og. Sometimes he was a teacher, the one who brought the Torah from HaShem to the world. Other times Moshe was a referee, a defense attorney, a parent-figure, or a statesman. Moshe was all of these things when the moment called for it, and that’s why he uses the phrase, “Ba’ais ha’hee,” at that time. When he prayed to HaShem, it was the time for prayer. When it was time to fight, he put aside his prayers and that’s what he did. When he had to defend the Jews before HaShem he did that to the best of his ability and when they needed him to adjudicate their disputes and render justice he did. One aspect of Moshe’s greatness was the ability to recognize and act in accordance with what was appropriate and necessary at the time. He did not say, “I cannot pray for you,” or “I am a teacher not a warrior.” He said, as did our forefather Avraham, “Hineni,” I am here and ready to do what You want me to do. As we reflect on the days of Tamuz and Av, when we tried to correct the flaws that led to the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash, and move forward toward the days of Elul, Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, when we ask HaShem to give us a new year of life, we must remember that HaShem puts us in the situations He does so we can do what must be done each and every moment of our lives. THAT is what living is all about.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:41:32 +0000
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