It’s not every day that we attend the funeral of a King or a Queen. Yet, earlier this week, a billion people tuned in for part of (if not all) Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. For about a week, the coffin bearing the Queen lay in State in her beloved Scotland and then was brought to London. Along the way people stopped and respectfully acknowledged the coffin’s passing by. Once in London, Queen Elizabeth lay in state for several days and millions of people stood in line, some time for as much as 30 hours in order to be physically close to the coffin, and pay final respects. On the day of the funeral, millions lined the route as the coffin was brought to Westminster Abbey where the funeral service was conducted. During this time, it was clearly evident that all of the Royal Family wanted the coffin to be accessible to all of the Queen’s subjects. She did not lie in State for only the noble class. She did not lie in state for only white Englishmen. She did not lie in state for only a certain gender, or only for the wealthy privileged class. Anyone and everyone who stood there at the appropriate moment caught a glimpse and had a moment of closure.
This week’s Parsha is the Parsha Nitzavim. According to the Aggadah, this is the recounting of Moshe Rabeinu’s last day of life. Unafraid of his imminent death, he gathers his family: Rosheichem, Shivteichem, Zikneichem, v’Shotreichem, Kol Ish Yisroel, Topchem N’Sheichem V’Geircha Asher B’Kerev Machanecha Meichotev Eitzecha Ad Sho’eiv Meimecha – The heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Yisroel; your children, your women, and the stranger who is in the midst of our camp, from the woodchopper to the one who draws water (Deut. 29:9-10). Moshe imparts the last vestiges of wisdom to his children and his people. Moshe wants to make sure that everything is in order when he dies and Joshua takes over. Moshe truly has been blessed. He has had the blessing of old age, and here God has granted him the gift of saying goodbye in perhaps the most wonderful fashion. God has commanded Moshe to say his goodbyes and impart the final vestiges of wisdom.
We are taught that death is a part of life. Yet many of us are afraid of death. Many of us believe that we should shield our children from death, sadness and loss. However, when we read Parsha Nitzavim, we learn that while impending death is sad, death in the manner of Moshe’s can take on an aura of holiness – of Kedushah. It is in holiness that we attain the highest level of life, a life that is directly connected to God. When death comes like this, from God, with an opportunity to say Goodbye- with an opportunity to impart wisdom to one’s children, death is not mundane, death is not ordinary, but rather holy and part of life, the final expression of holiness in a very physical endeavor. When we talk of strength, we, unfortunately, think of the person who lifts a lot of weight. We think of the person who doesn’t cry, who remains stoic if he/she is all torn up inside. At this time of year, from Elul through Sukkot, when we recite the 27th Psalm and conclude with the words Chazak v’Ya’Ameitz Libecha, v’Kavei El Adoshem – Strengthen yourself, and he will give you courage; and hope to HaShem! We now understand what it means to strengthen oneself. Moshe had that kind of strength. To be aware of the end of life, to prepare for it, to draw loved ones toward and tell them how we feel is the epitome of courage.
In a sense, Queen Elizabeth’s funeral wasn’t just a sacred ritual in which respect was paid to the deceased. Even in death, the Queen managed to allow her people to engage in a holy endeavor. By giving her subjects the opportunity to come together and offer “final respects” we are reminded to reaffirm and celebrate life no matter how difficult, no matter how troubling. This Shabbat is the final Shabbat of the Jewish year. The Jewish People are days away from celebrating Rosh HaShanah, (Jewish New Year). Rosh HaShanah is also known as Yom HaDin (Judgment Day). So while there is joy at arriving on the brink of a new year, perhaps there is a bit of anxiety while awaiting Judgment. However, during this anxious moment, we are reminded that we are all gathered and standing in judgment. Every Jew, from every walk of life, stands before God in Judgement, stands before God for a moment of accessibility.
Rav Yitz
No comments:
Post a Comment