One of the great tragedies in human life occurs when one
person feels himself or herself to be a square peg in a round hole, ill fitted
for the life one is leading and for the profession or work one is pursuing.
Most of us, unfortunately, have to make some sort of peace with such a
situation, and suffer the consequences throughout our productive lives. Rare
are the individuals who can change course in the midstream of life, fulfill
their natural abilities and pursue their true vision, despite all the obstacles
that undoubtedly present themselves.
The import of the blessing of Moshe to the Jewish people is
that each of the tribes, as well as the individuals who make up those tribes,
should be true unto themselves. They should accept and follow their mission,
both national and personal, that the Lord set out for them through their
genetic traits and personal God-given talents. Conformity stifles all
creativity and, without creativity, there can never be progress in human
affairs, whether spiritual or physical.
Moshe loves the Jewish people. He has proven his love for
them repeatedly during his 40 years as their leader and mentor. This final
Torah reading is his last and perhaps most soaring expression of love for his
people. A lesser person would, perhaps, feel pains of remorse and even revenge
for the treatment he received during his 40-year career as the people’s leader.
Indeed, Moshe would be justified in feeling unappreciated, and that he somehow
never received recognition from those that he served so loyally and skillfully
for so many decades.
However, that would not conform to the character trait of
Moshe, who is the greatest of all human beings. It is about him that the Torah
testifies to his natural human ego, i.e. that there never arose such a prophet
within the Jewish people before him, nor will there ever arise another one
after him. In his great vision of prophecy, Moshe identifies the talents and
mission of each of the various tribes of Israel, and properly assigns to them
their appropriate role in building a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. By
so doing, he is fulfilling his final and perhaps greatest act of love for his
people, by allowing for the diversity and creativity of human beings to
function and build a greater and more holy society.
Chag same’ach, Rabbi Berel Wein
