I have four words to introduce the Portion, Va-Etchannan – “midrash” and “back-to-school.”
Let’s start by making a midrash. A midrash (plural-midrashim) is a story commentary which Rabbis throughout the ages have created to “fill in the blanks” in the Torah narrative and to answer perplexing questions which the narrative raises. In the opening lines of Va-Etchannan, Moses reveals that he has pleaded with God to allow him to cross into Canaan and that God’s refusal was blunt in its finality.
“…you have much. Don’t go on speaking to me anymore of this thing.” (Deuteronomy 3:26)*
We know God decreed that because Moses struck the rock in the wilderness of Zin (Numbers 20: 9-11), he was destined to die before the Israelites crossed into Canaan. It seemed that Moses had accepted his fate – and yet here in Va-Etchannan, Moses pleads with God to change God’s mind! Why? What caused Moses to ask God to reconsider?
Just as the Rabbis put forth midrashim, so we (and our students) can devise one, like this:
A Midrash For Va-EtchannanThe children of Israel knew no other leader but Moses. Many began to express alarm that Moses wouldn’t be with them as they faced the challenges of settling in Canaan. Imagine their worried voices…
“We’re afraid, Moses. There are battles ahead and so many of God’s rules to follow and all the tasks of caring for our families in the land that God promised us.”
“You’ve always told us God’s word. You speak directly to God for us. Can Joshua do this? Who knows?”
“Please, Moses, talk to God again and beg God to let you come with us, just for a little while.”
“We really need you. Don’t leave us. Please. Please. Please!”
And Moses, moved by the heartfelt pleas of the children of Israel, speaks again to God, not on his own behalf, but for the children of Israel, his people,as it is told
in Deuteronomy 3:23-25.
Moving from midrash to Torah narrative, we learn that God answers, but Moses’ fate remains unchanged.
Having confirmed that his time is growing short, Moses launches into a vigorous re-teaching of God’s commandments.
“And now, Israel, listen to the laws and to the judgments that I’m teaching you to do, so that you’ll live, and you’ll come and take possession of the land that YHWH, your fathers’ God, is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1)*
What follows is an intense review of the major events, most life-shaping laws, and key principles of behavior which arose from the children of Israel’s encounters with God in the wilderness. It’s back-to-school time and Moses must teach his final lessons!
Like any good teacher, Moses recognizes that his students, the children of Israel, don’t always grasp complex ideas the first time around; that they may not have listened carefully; that they were spiritually, but not physically present in Egypt or at Mount Sinai; that as they plunge ahead into new experiences, they may not remember all of what was taught previously. Therefore, in Va-Etchannan, Moses repeats, re-phrases, reviews, recounts, reinforces, encourages, and warns.
Moses warns of the dire consequences of practicing idolatry. He recounts vivid descriptions of God’s power and God’s covenant with the children of Israel. Moses repeats a version of the Ten Commandments and reminds the children of Israel of God’s mercy and love for them if they fulfill God’s commandments. Moses reviews the locations of the cities of refuge “…for the manslayer who would slay his neighbor without knowing…” (Deuteronomy 4:42)*
Moses reinforces and encourages the children of Israel in their belief in One God. We are encouraged and strengthened by Moses very words in the Sh’ma and V’Ahavta prayers which are taken from Va-Etchannan. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
In the final lines of Va-Etchannan, Moses sums up the relationship between God and the children of Israel – a stern and memorable take-away!
“Therefore you shall know that YHWH, your God, He is God, the faithful God, keeping the covenant and kindness for those who love Him and who observe His commandments to the thousandth generation and paying back to those who hate Him to their faces to destroy them…” (Deuteronomy 7: 9-10)*
As the first Jewish educator, Moses demonstrates his teaching skills and inspires us in our own teaching, millennia removed from the children of Israel on the banks of the Jordan. What an amazing coincidence that we’re studying Va-Etchannan just as we’re about to re-enter our classrooms to begin the new school year.
Amazing – yes! Coincidence – No!
Torah teachings are made timely through our efforts to interpret, to understand, to apply, and to grow as learners and teachers.
B’Hatslacha (success) in the coming school year!
*From Commentary on the Torah by Richard Elliott Friedman
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- Starting Over, Starting Up, Reviewing and Re-thinking….Again! - June 6, 2014