It
has been a very busy week. Our sixteen year old daughter returned from six
weeks in Israel. Yes, she has grown up and she is exerting her new sense of
independence since she arrived. My wife and I have been following the Olympics,
and the Presidential campaign. Amid all the news, a 41 year old baseball player
was given his unconditional release. Now that is certainly not newsworthy.
After all, there are not a lot of 41 year old baseball players who are
particularly productive. Alex Rodriguez will receive the remainder of the 27
million dollars that he is owed. However Alex’s team, the New York Yankees
explained that while he will no longer play baseball for the Yankees, he will
become and “advisor” to Yankee players. He will become a mentor to younger
players. Ironically, this is the same Alex Rodriguez that was banned from
baseball for a year because he was taking performance enhancing drugs.
Superficially, Alex Rodriguez might not be the best choice to be a mentor or
advisor to young players. Despite the glaring character flaws, he is reputed to
have an incredibly strong work ethic, he loves the game and he has a strong
appreciation of the history of the game.
However, make no mistake both Alex and his employer understand that the
time has come for the next generation of players to assume the mantle of
leadership.
This
Shabbat is known as Shabbat Nachamu “Shabbat of Comfort”. Parhsa V’Etchanan is always the Torah portion
that immediate follows after Tisha B’Av.
Certainly after commemorating the destruction of the First and Second
Temples, B’nai Yisroel needed spiritual comforting. Certainly in this week’s parsha, V’Etchanan,
Moshe’ reassures B’nai Yisroel of its destiny and in doing so, comforts them. After
concluding a brief history of B’nai Yisroel’s wanderings and a gentle rebuke of
this generation which is about to enter into Eretz Canaan, Moshe now provides a
framework for all the laws he will teach in succeeding weeks. Moshe presents the Aseret Dibrot, the Ten
Commandments to this news generation. Moshe infuses the people with
self-respect. He reminds this generation that the entire basis for our
nationhood and our relationship to God is avoiding idolatry at all costs.
Avoiding idolatry ultimately distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Finally,
Moshe reminds the people that if they follow the advice, then everything will
go well. From that perspective, Moshe is re-assuring the people that the future
is possible and plausible.
Prior
to the discourse, Moshe implores God, hoping that the punishment will be
rescinded and he could indeed enter the land. Surprisingly, God does not listen
to his most humble servant. Instead, Moshe tell us: Vayitaber Hashem- God became
angry (Deut. 3:26). Imagine that! For the first time we are told that God
actually became angry with Moshe. God has been angry at B’nai Yisroel on
numerous occasions. Yet God was never angry with Moshe. Even when Moshe hit the
rock (Num. 2: 9-13), we do not read of God getting “angry” with Moshe. God
becomes angry at a “dying man’s final request”.
Now, from Moshe’s perspective God tells Moshe to drop the matter.
Instead of wasting time trying to walk in Eretz Canaan, God tells Moshe V’Tzav et Yehoshua v’Chazkeihu
v’Amtzeihu Ki Hu Ya’Avor Lifnei Ha’Am HaZeh, V’hu Yanchil Otam et Ha’Aretz
Asher Tireh – But you shall command
Joshua, and strengthen him and give him resolve, for he shall cross before this
people and he shall cause them to inherit the Land that you will see.
(Deut. 3:28). So Moshe begins strengthening Joshua and his nation by teaching
them the law, by providing a framework for observance, a framework for living a
life and a framework for raising children. Moshe realized that his time as a
leader was winding down. Moshe realized that it was time to let go of his
authority. In order to let go, Moshe needed to inform, teach and make sure that
his wisdom had been thoroughly passed down to the Joshua and this generation.
Whether
an aged retiring professional athlete takes on an advisory role, or a parent/
grandparent nearing the end of life hoping to pass on the final pearls of
wisdom, there comes a time when we all have the opportunity to pass wisdom to
the younger generation. There comes a time when we all realize that it’s time
to step aside. The process is an incredibly selfless. After all, to transmit
information and wisdom to the next generation is an acknowledgment that the
“mentor”/”advisor” is not part of the future. Instead, the future only depends
upon offering strength, wisdom, guidance and an endorsement to future leaders.
Then the mentor must step aside and allow the leader to lead.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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