This week’s parshah is Va’Etchanan, meaning “I pleaded with HaShem.” This refers to Moshe Rabbani’s prayers and supplications that HaShem annul His vow and allow Moshe to enter the Holy Land. Our Sages teach that Moshe offered 515 prayers specifically for this goal, yet HaShem refused him and told him, “Stop! No more! I will not annul that vow!” Why? What would be so terrible if Moshe did enter the Land? Moshe even pleaded to enter the land not as a leader, but even as an animal or a bird! So what would take place then?
As we saw in Parshat Matos-Masei, an oath is sacred. Thus, God’s word not to allow Moshe to enter the Land had to be fulfilled. But why? The Zohar teaches that Moshe was destined (even forced) to be buried outside the Land because of the Jewish nation. There are many Jews who also deserved not to be allowed into the Land. These are the Jews who reject the sanctity of the Land and stray from HaShem. If Moshe were buried in the Land, who would stand up for those Jews when the time of Redemption arrives? So Moshe was forced to be buried in a foreign land where he would be available to help those who are (for the present) unworthy.
After all, when Mashiach comes, he will effect rectification for all those who require it. But Mashiach will be in the Land, so Moshe must redeem his flock—those who were tainted in Egypt and those who became tainted from exposure to the attributes of the nations. Moshe will be there in the Diaspora for every Jew who wishes to recognize HaShem.
The parshah continues by speaking about how HaShem is always near and next to us. It exhorts us to seek HaShem and avoid idolatry—any idolatry. We may think of idolatry as worshipping idols, but there’s more to it than that. Idolatry is arrogance, haughtiness, anger and the pursuit of anything material that a person is willing to sacrifice for, such as wealth, immorality or even bizarre eating habits that occupy a person’s mind.
Following these advisories, the parshah repeats the Ten Commandments as they were reissued due to the breaking of the original Tablets. Then comes the passage of the Shema, our declaration of faith in HaShem.
Va’Etchanan is always read on the Shabbos following Tisha B’Av. This shows us that maybe we sinned, maybe we caused damage, and maybe we caused the Temple to be destroyed. But its verses show HaShem’s compassion upon us, allowing us to renew our commitment to HaShem (the Ten Commandments) and strengthen our faith in Him.
The Haftorah of Va’Etchanan is the first of seven weeks of readings from Yeshayahu the Prophet, of the consolation and comfort that we will experience when Mashiach finally comes. Amen.
