Parashat Vayelech 5785, 2025: “Moshe v’Torato Emet”

​Rabbi David Etengoff
 
ה' יעזור וירחם על אחינו כל בני ישראל בארץ ישראל ובכל חלקי הארץ
 
There is a popular saying regarding familiar pasukim: “If Rashi wrote about it, it is shagur b’pive ha’am—it is something that people know.” One such example is found in Sefer Bereishit: “These are the generations of Noach; Noach was a righteous man he was perfect b’dorotov—in his generations; Noach walked with Elokim.” (6:9, this and all Tanach and Rashi translations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach, with my emendations) Rashi famously comments:

in his generations. Some of our Sages interpret it [the word בְּדֹרֹתָיו] favorably: How much more so if he had lived in a generation of righteous people, he would have been even more righteous. Others interpret it derogatorily: In comparison to his generation, he was righteous, but if he had been in Avraham’s generation, he would not have been considered of any importance. [Sanhedrin 108a, Bereishit Rabbah 30:9, Midrash Tanchuma Noach 5]
 
Rashi underscores the significance of this interpretation in his next gloss:
​
Noach walked with Elokim. But concerning Avraham, the Torah says [24:40]: “[Hashem] before Whom I walked.” Noach required [Hashem’s] support to uphold him [in righteousness], but Avraham strengthened himself and walked in his righteousness by himself. [Midrash Tanchuma, Noach 5]
 
Hashem’s earlier words to Avram (Avraham), in contrast, underscore this analysis: “And Avram was ninety-nine years old, and Hashem appeared to Avram, and He said to him, ‘I am the Almighty God; walk before Me and be perfect.’” In sum, one of Avraham’s defining characteristics was his ability to walk before Hashem, without any support from Him, and attain perfection. Little wonder then, that Avraham, and Avraham alone, is called “Ohavi, he who loved Me.” (Sefer Yeshayahu, 41:8)

Significantly, our parasha contains several pasukim wherein we find a variation of the infinitive, “lalechet—to walk or go:”

“Vayelech Moshe --And Moshe went, and he spoke the following words to all Israel.” (Sefer Devarim 31:1)
 
… for Hashem, Elokecha, Hu haholech imach —He is the One Who goes with you [Jewish people]. He will neither fail you, nor forsake you. (31:6)
 
… Hashem Hu haholech lefanecha--He is the One Who goes before you (Yehoshua); He will be with you; He will neither fail you, nor forsake you. (31:8)
 
A careful reading of 31:6 reveals that the descendants of the Dor HaMidbar who entered Eretz Yisrael were very much like Noach in the sense that Hashem walked with them. In other words, they did not have sufficient spiritual strength to survive the idol worshipping enticements of the surrounding native peoples on their own, and instead, they needed Hashem’s direct support.
 
Yehoshua, however, was on a very different level, in that “Hu haholech lefanecha,” Hashem went before him and taught him how to lead the Jewish people. Little wonder, then, that the people who entered Eretz Yisrael remained loyal to Hashem until after Yehoshua’s children passed away, in deference to the great leader’s spiritual stature.
 
Moshe Rabbeinu attained the highest level of all: “Vayelech Moshe --And Moshe went, and he spoke the following words to all Israel.” Moshe needed no support from Hashem to perform his holy mission as the greatest navi the world has ever known. In the final analysis, his entire being was engaged in performing one glorious task, namely, to bring the Torah and emunat Hashem to Klal Yisrael. As the Gemara teaches us: “Moshe v’Torato emet--Moshe and his Torah are the ultimate truth.” (Baba Batra 74a:)
 
Shabbat Shalom and Kativah v’Chatimah Tovah
 
Past drashot may be found at my blog-website: http://reparashathashavuah.org
They may also be found on http://www.yutorah.org using the search criteria Etengoff and the parasha’s name.
 
The email list, b’chasdei Hashem, has expanded to hundreds of people. I am always happy to add more members to the list. If you have family or friends you would like to have added, please do not hesitate to contact me via email mailto:[email protected].
 
*** My audio shiurim on the topics of Tefilah and Tanach may be found at: https://www.box.com/s/7bf01f9abcabf02e25c3
 
*** I have posted 164+ of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s English language audio shiurim (MP3 format) spanning the years 1958-1984. Please click on the highlighted link.

---