And Moshe went...

(Deuteronomy 31:1)
Tishrei 5, 5776/September 18, 2015

"And Moshe went... " (Deuteronomy 31:1) To where did Moshe go? Torah does not provide us with this information, and the sages of Israel have expressed different opinions as to Moshe's intended destination. We read this Torah selection, parashat Vayelech("And he went") this Shabbat which falls between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. This unique Shabbat, known as Shabbat Shuva, the Sabbath of Repentance, presents us all with an expanded and enhanced opportunity to do teshuva - to return to ourselves and draw nearer to G-d , as well as the challenge to rise above ourselves and draw nearer to our fellow human beings. It's all part of the month long build up to the Days of Awe - Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur - and the cosmic opening up of G-d's arms, as it were, to receive His returning children.

So where was Moshe going? Where are we going, for that matter? Our sages point to the same phrasing in an earlier verse: "A man of the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi." (Exodus 2:1) The man was Amram, the father of Moshe. Moshe's life begins and ends with "and he went..." Thinking about where we are heading can lead us to recalling where we have been, the paths we have taken and the paths we haven't taken. This kind of reflection is the beginning of teshuva - returning to our true selves, the self G-d intended for us. But self-reflection is just the first step in doing teshuva. What will it lead to?

Our sages provide two answers to the question implied in the words "And Moses went... " Targum Yonatan, an ancient translation of Torah in Aramaic, states that Moshe was heading to the tent of meeting to seek G-d's instructions, to find out for himself "what's next?" The verses which follow support this, as Moshe relates to Israel G-d's final message for him. Many other commentators state that Moshe was heading to each of the twelve tribes, to talk to the people, to part from them and to instill within them the faith and courage to continue in the path of Torah even after his death: "Today I am one hundred and twenty years old. I can no longer go or come, and HaShem said to me, 'You shall not cross this Jordan.' HaShem, your G-d He will cross before you; He will destroy these nations from before you so that you will possess them. Yehoshua he will cross before you, as HaShem has spoken." (Deut. 31:2)

Both these answers, that of Targum Yonatan, and that of other sages are likewise the answer to our other question: Where should self-reflection lead to? The purpose ofteshuva is to return to G-d , to present ourselves before Him, and to hear His instructions. Self-reflection also requires us to approach our fellow man and to make amends.

But why do teshuva today? It's true that we are "in the season" for doing teshuva, but Yom Kippur will role around again in another year. Life is busy and it's a time-consuming effort to do teshuva. Can't it wait for another day?

Moshe knows that this is the final day of his life. G-d has told him. He knows he will no longer lead Israel. He knows he will not cross the Jordan into the promised land. His time for doing teshuva has arrived and he wastes not a moment in doing so. But we don't know the day of our demise. This is why our sages tell us that we should regard every day as being our last. Repentance - teshuva - making amends, asking forgiveness of our fellow man, looking squarely at ourselves, straightening our paths, being a better person, a better mother, father, son, daughter, sibling, spouse, friend, etc., these are things which cannot wait. There is no tomorrow when it comes to making necessary change in or lives.

Our ultimate destination, that which lies beyond the short span of our days on earth, is a precise reflection of the efforts we make while the breath of life G-d has granted us still animates our thoughts and directs our steps. Concerning teshuva - today is the day!

-The Temple Institute