>> Torah portion
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Parshat Eikev: Deuteronomy
7:12-11:25; Isaiah 49:14-51:3.
W
e are now reading the
fifth book of the Torah; in
English, it is referred to
as Deuteronomy, meaning essentially "a
second or repeated" reading of the Holy
Word. While we in the Jewish community
usually refer to the Book of Devarim, it
is also traditionally known as Mishneh
Torah, in other words, a Repetition of
Torah.
In his month-long farewell
sermon to the Children of
Israel, Moses "repeats" the
story of his life and the sig-
nificant events that marked
the people's 40 years in the
wilderness. His audience/
congregation is, for all intents
and purposes, a new gen-
eration — those who are
listening to his stories on the
eastern side of the Jordan
River are the children and
grandchildren of the Hebrews who were
slaves in Egypt.
Moses is an old man; he repeats him-
self; he remembers details a little differ-
ently; what seems obvious or humorous
to him at this moment may be an entirely
new understanding of what happened
decades previously. His smile and his
tears come at awkward moments. But, as
we are told in the final phrases describing
his death: His vision had not dimmed nor
had his strength diminished.
We remember him as Moshe Rabbeinu
— Moses, our Teacher. For the best teach-
ers (and the most beloved grandparents
too, we know!) repeat and review the vital
lessons and experiences from which we
all can learn.
In this week's portion, Moses reminds
the Israelites about the Golden Calf that
they had fashioned while he was on
Mount Sinai, receiving the (first) two
tablets of the Covenant. When he came
down after 40 days and 40 nights and saw
what the people had done, he smashed
those tablets. Later, we know, he ascended
the mountain again, pleading with God
to forgive and allow the Hebrews to move
ahead as an Am Kadosh, a Holy People.
He returns to them, bringing two new
stone tablets with him.
The Rabbis ask but what happened to
the broken tablets? Moses didn't just leave
them lying in the desert, did he? They
answer: No, he picked up the broken
fragments and later placed them in the
Ark, together with the new tablets of the
Commandments. In this week's portion,
Moses recalls and recounts this story.
Imagine his thinking at the time: those
broken pieces of the tablets
— they represented so many
hopes and dreams, such a
sacred bond between God and
the Children of Israel. Imagine
his disappointment and sad-
ness. And yet, the teacher (and
leader) quality in him inspired
him to make of the tragedy
something positive and hope-
ful.
Yes, there needed to be pun-
ishment and response to the
episode of the Golden Calf, but
there also needed to be the acceptance,
love and hope that could only come from
one whose wisdom and age gave him per-
spective and faith.
Moses, like the loving grandparent and
role model for the generations who would
inherit his Mishneh Torah, implores us to
"not discard the broken fragments:' but
to find the most appropriate Ark in which
they can be kept and handed down. And
also, to fashion new tablets as he did, to
inspire those who come after us to move
forward into their Promised Land with
love and confidence. ❑
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APPLICATION DEADLINE AUGUST 31, 2015. •
00 00
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THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU
Tqc 1(<3 Atm
Conversations
• How did you learn to save the
broken pieces of something you
owned or shared and refashion
them into a gift for your children
and/or grandchildren?
• How have the stories you
remember and retell changed
over the years? Or do your loved
ones just say, "Oh, we've heard
that so many times before" and
refuse to listen again?
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JN
August 6 • 2015
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