Parshat Vayelech 5779
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the first words of this week's parsha Vayelech Moshe Vayedaber es HaDevarim Ha'Eileh el Kol Yisrael, Moshe went and he spoke the following to all of Bnei Yisrael. The Zohar Hakadosh asks on this pasuk what is the meaning of the words Vayelech Moshe? Where did he go that the Torah says Vayelech Moshe?
Rav Tzadok answers that the words Vayelech Moshe indicate the process Moshe Rabbeinu was always involved in of moving forward. And the pasuk tells us that this movement of Moshe, this Vayelech Moshe, was the final level Moshe Rabbeinu had arrived at. For in the very next pasuk we read Ben Me'ah V'Esrim Shanah Anochi Hayom, Lo Uchal Od Latzeis V'Lavo V'Hashem Amar Elai Lo Sa'avor es HaYarden Hazeh. As Rashi explains, Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael that on this day he is completing 120 years on this earth and Hashem is not allowing him to continue on to Eretz Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu is stating that today he was born but all also that today he is going to die. The parsha begins with the words Vayelech Moshe because Moshe is describing the last journey and movement forward of his life.
Rav Tzadok explains that the reason he is no longer moving forward is also explained in this pasuk. Rashi explains that since Hashem is not allowing him to enter Eretz Yisrael, therefore Lo Uchal Od Latzeis V'Lavo. What is the significance of this phrase Lo Uchal Od Latzeis V'Lavo, I can't go out and I can't go in?
Rav Tzadok continues and explains that in order to move forward in life one needs to first move back. He quotes the pasuk in sefer Mishlei (Chapter 24, Pasuk 16), Ki Sheva Yipol Tzadik V'Kam, a Tzadik falls seven times and gets up. We learn from here that in order to move to a higher level one must first fall from his present level. And this is how he explains Moshe's words Lo Uchal Od Latzeis V'Lavo. Since I am not able to fall back, since I am not able to fulfill Latzeis, I am no longer able to move forward and Lavo. And this why Moshe has arrived at his at his final journey of Vayelech Moshe.
This process of Lo Uchal Od Latzeis V'Lavo expressed by Moshe Rabbeinu is similar to the Teshuvah process itself. Rabbi Yaakov teaches in Avos (Chapter 4, Mishnah 21) Olam Hazeh Domeh L'Prozdor Bifnei Olam Habah. In order to reach Olam Habah we are required to first go through the physical world and purify ourselves through Torah and mitzvos. And Yom Kippur is like Olam Haba; we are like angels and do not even need to eat and drink. The Sfas Emes explains that this is the reason for the mitzvah of eating on Erev Yom Kippur. We must first take the physical pleasure that we used for sin and now use it as a means to get to Olam Haba. We must show that precisely that which brought us down is now bringing us back up by using the pleasures of this world as a means to serve Hashem. Instead of using eating and drinking and all pleasure as an end to itself, we now use it to as a means to an end; in order to properly focus and concentrate on our Avodas Hashem.
Erev Yom Kippur is a necessary step towards Yom Kippur. Before we reach the stage of pure angels, we need to be involved in the physical pleasure of eating; but eating through Teshuvah. Eating which understands that pleasure is meant to help us serve Hashem and not serve as an end to itself. Only then are we able to reach the level of Yom Kippur, of individuals who are like angels and don't require eating at all.
This is also Moshe's statement of Lo Uchal Od Latzeis V'Lavo. In order to move forward one must learn and grow from his challenges in life. Physical pleasure as exemplified by eating is a great challenge in life. It can be used for good or for bad. When we learn from mistakes, we are able to move forward. Angels are described as standing still; they maintain their level constantly. Only man is meant to moving forward. And in order to insure that we don't stagnate we must learn from our challenges in order to move to the next level just as Erev Yom Kippur leads to Yom Kippur. And this is why Moshe Rabbeinu once he reached his point of Lo Uchal Od Latzeis V'Lavo, he arrived at his final level of Vayelech Moshe.
Good Shabbos and Gemar Chasima Tova
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