Until this week, I can’t
remember the last time my children or my wife praised Toronto’s weather. Having
grown up on the southern side of Lake Ontario, in Rochester, New York; I was
used to those very unique spring and fall days in which three even four season
appeared within a twenty four hour span. Rochester would be just as cold with
twice the snow because of something called “Lake Effect”. However, while every
day this week has been sunny and 20/25 C (or for my wife and kids 70/77 F); we
have watched the devastation of Hurricane Irma throughout Florida, the
destruction it left in the Caribbean, in Cuba, the flooding in Jacksonville,
and Charleston, South Carolina. Millions of people are without power, millions
have lost homes and their most precious belongings. Of course this comes on the
heels of the Hurricane Harvey’s flooding of Houston ten days before Irma struck
Florida. Some Synagogues in both Houston and certain parts of Florida have been
damaged by flood, some have lost prayer books, and some synagogues will have to
find alternative locations since the synagogue building cannot be used. Synagogues from other parts of the United
States and Canada are sending Machzorim, Siddurim, and Chumashim. Otherwise,
the High Holidays, which is a normally stressful time for clergy, and Synagogue
employees is exponentially worse in those places affected by the recent
hurricanes.
In this week’s double Parsha,
Parsha Nitzavim/VaYeilech, Moshe gathers all the people around him one last
time. He reminds them that they are a people with a covenant, warns them
against idolatry, explains that they descendants will be punished with exile
but will eventually return to the Eretz Canaan, and pleads with them to always
keep the teachings of the Torah near to them wherever they and their
descendants go. Moshe explains that his
death is days away. He completes writing his Sefer Torah, presents it to the
Kohanim for safe-keeping. He passes all pertinent information and “state
secrets” to Joshua, his successor. Moshe instructs the Kohanim to read the
Torah to a gathering of the entire nation every seven years. Then God tells
Moshe what will befall the people after his death and after they enter Eretz
Canaan. Moshe listens to God’s words and
is instructed to put these words of prophecy into the format of poetry or a
song.
As the text ties up the “loose
knots”, as Moshe makes the final preparations for his death; there seems to be
a foreboding sense that Moshe’s final moments may not be so pleasant and
peaceful and the future of the people may not be so bright after all. Moshe says a lot of rather discouraging
things on his “deathbed”. He explains
that later generations will fail to heed the Torah and they will be exiled. He
explains that sad things will happen. He explains that bad things will
happen. Moshe does not offer some
saccharine type of hope that suggests not worrying and everything will be OK.
Rather Moshe offers a type of hope that empowers each and every individual,
empowers each and every generation and, just as importantly Moshe tells them
the secret to survival. HaMitzvah HaZot
Asher Anochi M’Tzavcha HaYom For this
commandment that I command you today Lo
Nifleit Hee Mimcha It is not hidden
from you V’Lo Rechoka Hee and it is not distant. Lo Bashamayim Hee It is not in the heavens… Ki
Karov Eilecha HaDavar Me’od B’Ficha U’Vilvavcha La’Asoto Rather
the matter (the word) is very near to you – in your mouth and your heart –
perform it (Deut. 30:11-14). Moshe secret was that Torah is not
inaccessible. Anyone can do it. You just have to learn it and then do it. Moshe
reminded those who were listening that his words, his teachings are not beyond
anyone’s capacity. Sforno, the great
Renaissance Rabbi and Commentator explains that Teshuva, repentance, and Torah
is within the individual’s and the community’s capacity; there is no need for a
prophet to bring heavenly messages if the community behaves the way it is
supposed to behave. The only thing that the community needs is someone to teach
the community what to do and how to do it. Then the community will be informed
enough as to how to behave appropriately. Moshe taught them that Torah was
portable. It could go anywhere in the world as long as there was someone to
learn it and teach it.
Yes, the Holidays can be
stressful even in ideal circumstances. However the chaos caused by hurricanes,
violent winds, and flooding, the physical and emotional chaos cause by these
powerful storms suggests a different kind of chaos: a more intense type of
chaos, a chaos that leaves people powerless, feeling diminished, exhausted and
questioning. Yet for the questions that some may have, the struggle with faith;
despite all this; we understand the Torah is close by. We know, or perhaps we
need to be reminded, that amid this chaos we are given the opportunity to
continue learning, to spiritually prepare for holidays as well as physically
prepare. As chaotic as it seems, Moshe’s
re-assuring words that the Torah is designed to be accessible to everyone
suggests something even more profound; that amid the chaos, God is just as
accessible if not more so.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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