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Commitment
To A Covenant
Shabbat Vaetchanan:
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11;
Isaiah 40:1-26.
Ann Arbor
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days as a leader are drawing to an end
in what he once felt, and perhaps still
uch of the Book of
feels, is an unfair punishment. And
Devarim (Deuteronomy)
yet, he not only persists in his faith, he
consists of a "farewell
elevates his language and his connec-
address" by Moses.
tion to the people in a way he
God has commanded
never did before.
that Moses not enter into
Our culture is full of
the land of Canaan and
classic "farewell speeches."
Parashat Vaetchanan
From George Washington
begins with a description
to Lou Gehrig and so many
of his desperate attempt
in between, we have been
to get God to reconsider.
inspired by those who said
But Moses said that God
goodbye in speeches and
refused and chastised
actions that reflect dignity,
Rabbi Robert
him: "Enough! Never
class, grace and vision.
Dobrusin
speak to Me of this matter
And, so it is with Moses.
Special to the
again!"
Rather than rail against God's
Jewish News
It appears that Moses
punishment, he summons
has told this painful story to the
up the courage and the vision to pro-
people not to demonstrate that God is vide his people with inspiration that
unreasonable but to be truthful as to
would live on after him. The readings
his own situation. In doing so, how-
in Deuteronomy take on additional
ever, he teaches a valuable lesson to
meaning as we see this different view
the people and to all of us.
of Moses as a spiritual, inspirational,
There is no
human leader who
question that
can elevate us with
Deuteronomy is
language of love
different from
and faith.
the other books
Let Moses' words
of the Torah. It
be a lesson for all
is much more
of us. When we are
emotional, much more poetic in its
faced with rejection or disappoint-
language. It seems to strike us in a
ment, let us find the courage and the
different way than the other books of
strength inside to bring ourselves
the Torah, which focus on narratives
and those we influence to a better
and legal issues. Deuteronomy speaks
place. II
in language of love and commitment,
in language of yearning and assurance. Robert Dobrusin is rabbi of Beth Israel
And, all of it, according to the
Congregation in Ann Arbor.
Torah, comes from the mouth of
Moses as he prepares to take leave of
the people. He shares with them the
Conversations
words of the Shema and the command
Think of some you know who was
to love God with all our heart, soul
able to respond to disappoint-
and might. Later in the book, he calls
ment with optimism and deter-
the people "children" of God and asks
mination. What are the qualities
them to be tamim, pure or innocent,
that help a person act in this
with God. He talks to them about how
way? Examine the ways that law
the Torah is not in the heavens but in
and love are united as we are
their hearts and has them focus on
exhorted to love God and keep
building a holy community.
His commandments.
All of this comes from a man whose
M
Let Moses' words be a
lesson for all of us.
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42
July 26 • 2007
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