For those of us living in Toronto, New York,
Pittsburgh, Chicago and St. Louis; this is a great time of year. With eighteen
baseball games left in the regular season, each of these cities is focused upon
their respective baseball teams and their push toward the playoffs and division
titles. With three games separating Blue
Jays fans and Yankees fans; three games separating Pirates fans from Cardinal
fans, and four games separating Pirates fans from Cubs fans; it seems every
game every inning and nearly every pitch is fill with anxiety for us fans. Not
only are we worried about our team, but we are now focused on the other teams
as well. With all that concern for the plight of the other team, all the anxiety
is now doubled. My son and I find ourselves cheering for our team to win and
the other team to lose. It makes for tense evenings but incredibly exciting as
well. There really is nothing like the excitement in a city when it is in a
pennant race. Part of the excitement is a result of the fact that there are
still question regarding these respective divisions. No single team has
clinched, the final answer is unknown. One thing is for sure, over the
course of these final eighteen games, there will be one game, one moment when
the questions will be answered, the winner will be evident, and there will be
clarity regarding playoff match-ups.
For the
Jewish People, we are keenly aware that it is also a very special time of year,
albeit not due to baseball. We are in the midst of a very spiritual time of
year. We are in the midst of a ten day period from Rosh HaShanah until Yom
Kippur knows as the Aseret Yamei T’shuvah – the Ten Days of Repentance. As the
name suggests, this is the time of year in which we seek M’chila or forgiveness for any transgression we have committed. We
seek forgiveness from God, and we seek forgiveness from family and friends. Mostly,
it seems to me, that during these ten days we honestly look at ourselves and
assume that we have hurt others instead of being shocked when we find out that
we are capable of hurting another. The ability to engage in this process known
as Tshuvah, the process of returning
to holiest aspect of our being, requires great clarity. Sometimes clarity
occurs during on a beautiful autumn day. Sometimes clarity comes on a starry
night. Sometimes clarity comes while sipping coffee at sunrise. Sometimes
clarity comes at childbirth. Sometimes clarity comes when you tuck your
children into bed and wish them sweet dreams. Sometimes clarity comes at the
death of a loved one. Sometimes, clarity comes at one's impending death.
In this week’s Parsha, Va’Yeileich,
Moshe is now experiences for the last time a tremendous moment of clarity.
However of all the moments of clarity including: the Burning Bush, the
Revelation at Sinai, the Personal Revelation when he saw the back of God while
defending B’nai Yisroel following the episode of the Golden Calf; it is the
moment of death to which we can all relate. It is at the moment of impending
death that Moshe has perfect clarity. He sees and understands the anguish that
his children will experience as they drift towards and away from their Covenant
with God. He sees all that his life has been and he recognizes that while his
life will be no more, there will be closure. Ki Yadati Acharei Motie Ki Hashcheit Tashchitun v’Sartem Min HaDerech
Asher Tziviti Etchem V’Karat Etchem Ha’Ra’Ah B’Acharit Hayamim Ki Ta’Asu et
Ha’Rah B’Einei Adoshem L’Hachiso B’Ma’Asei Y’deichem – For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly, and you
will surely act corruptly, and you will stray from the path that I have
commanded you, and evil will befall you at the end of days, if you do what is
evil in the eyes of HaShem, to anger Him through your handiwork
(Deut.31:29). We should note that closure does not necessarily mean that the
content of the closure will be positive, however the process of closure is
always positive. Our sages are adamant about the vital importance of closure.
If a person engages in Tshuvah, a repentant return to God, and Vidui,
confession even if the moment before death it is tantamount to a person who has
returned to living a life of Mitzvot. In a moment of clarity, certainly such a
moment exists at death, Moshe has the opportunity to make that moment holy,
sanctified, an un-wasted moment.
On this Shabbat Shuvah, this Shabbat
of Return, let us be reminded and strengthened to accept moments of clarity.
Let us be wise enough to deal with such moments of clarity in the most holy of
endeavors. Let us be pro-active enough to take advantage of moments of clarity
by moving towards our loved ones. Let us be spiritually aware enough and
realize the absolute importance of moving towards God. Let us not wait until we
become aware of an impending loss. Instead, during the Aseret Yamei T’shuva, we
should be spiritually clear enough to see every moment as an opportunity to
return to that which is holy.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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