Rabbi Jonathan Shippel
Parsha of the Week

The fifth book of the Torah is known in Hebrew as Devarim – words – and in English as Deuteronomy – second law. In Devarim Deuteronomy, Moses retells the experience of the 40 years in the desert previously recorded in the Torah. He introduces new laws to the Jewish people as they prepare to leave the desert and enter the land of Israel. This is also known as the Mishneh Torah, a repetition of the Torah, in which Moses passes on his ethical will to the next generations. In the Jewish tradition of the ethical will, wisdom and values are passed down to new generations through retelling and emphasizing parts of one’s life story. In the last five weeks of his life, Moses knows he cannot enter the land of Israel, so he passes on his words and wisdom through his ethical will to prepare the Jewish people for the long journey ahead.

In the conversation between God and Moses at the burning bush, God instructs Moses that He has chosen Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, and to share God’s will with the children of Israel. Moses protests that he is not a man of words and does not feel worthy of the role. In Exodus, Chapter 4 Verse 10, Moses says “I am heavy of mouth and speech” and struggles with nervousness and stuttering. God believes in Moses and with His love and support, Moses transforms himself into the leader of the Jewish people and the one who passes on God’s words to them. The transformation of Moses is so complete that the fifth book of the Torah is one long speech from Moses to the Jewish people. With God’s love and support, Moses learns to believe in himself and his ability to change. His example is the willingness and bravery to change and fulfill his potential, thus serving God and the Jewish people.

This year, the Shabbos precedes Tisha B’Av, the day of communal mourning and grief. The first calamity to take place on the first Tisha B’Av was when Moses sent out the Twelve Spies to explore the land for the Jewish people. Ten of the spies came back with negative reports about the land. They did not believe in themselves or the mission and did not overcome their fears and inhibitions. Two of the Spies, Joshua and Caleb, believed in the success God promised by walking with Him, recognizing the opportunity and believing in God’s mission. We can share love and connection with others as an antidote to the grief and mourning of Tisha B’Av. When we lose the ability to believe in ourselves, that is also like the loss of the temple. (However, it is possible to) recognize our bodies and homes as temples - sources of light to share with others. Looking to others with confidence and believing in ourselves as Moses, Caleb, and Joshua did can help us overcome our struggles.