Parashat D’varim / Shabbat Hazon
Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22
The fifth and final book of the Torah, D’varim – Deuteronomy – records the last words (- d’varim) of Moses before his demise, right before the entry of the Israelites into the Promised Land. It is very important to remember that these are his own words, spoken without any prompting or command by God. (See last year’s Torah Sparks for a discussion of the significance of this fact.) We are told that he began speaking on “the eleventh month, on the firstof the month.” (Deut. 1:3) That month is Adar. Our tradition has it that Moses died on the seventh of that month. So we are to imagine that these last words occupied the last week of his life.
His words begin with harsh admonition. Moses speaks openly about how difficult it has been for him to lead and care for his people. He recalls their stubborn lack of faith in God, their ingratitude and cowardice. The speech is potent stuff. Our Sages were struck by how strong and direct Moses was in his reproofs and warnings. Noting the timing of his speech, they inferred that “he did not admonish them until he was close to death” (Sifre, Rashi, ad. loc.) And they point out that this was the way of other great leaders of the people – Jacob, David and Samuel. Why did these figures choose to wait until they were about to die before telling the people the truth?
The Sages explain that their choice stemmed from their knowledge that it is almost impossible to deliver criticism successfully. The Sages admit that even in their circles the proper delivery and receipt of criticism was almost unheard of. The difficulty inheres in the person who offers the criticism as well in the person who receives it. They note that it is all too common to engage in criticism for all the wrong reasons. One may be engaging in an ego or power trip. One may cruelly wish to hurt the other person. And one’s anger may blind one’s self to all the complexities of the situation and any extenuating or justifying aspects of the other side’s situation, acts or opinion. The key, say the Sages, is to examine one’s motives with great honesty and humitiy. And no one was more humble than Moses.
But it is also almost impossible to accept criticism. It is hard to admit to anyone else that one has erred. It is also an attack on one’s ego to see that someone else has a better grip on truth and righteousness. We so often counter criticism with the reaction, “Who do you think you are?” Offering criticism can, Instead of correcting a situation, make things worse. Instead of helping a person, it can drive them away and wreck a relationship.
So it is best for a respected leader, a leader who has some chance at being taken seriously, to wait until the last moment. We would like to think that, as death nears, the leader has attained a sense of equanimity and peace of mind, absent concerns for self. And, as she nears death, it can be hoped that her followers’ hearts are softened and prepared to take in their leader’s wisdom. But, the Sages ruefully remark, there is another advantage to waiting until the last moment. Because the chances are that one’s words will have little or only short-lived effect. Soon enough the sins and defects will reappear. This way, if one waits until just before death before speaking out, one will only have to deliver the corrective admonition once. One will be released from pain and sorrow of having to say it again and again.
Such musings stand in stark contrast to our haftarah and all it represents. The prophetic reading is the opening of the book of Isaiah. It is replete with harsh denunciation and bitter criticism leveled at Israel. And this is only the start of Isaiah’s book! This is not his deathbed speech. This is his life’s mission. How can he be so incessant and vehement in his admonitions? The Sages explain that, unlike with Moses, he is not speaking his own words. He is a prophet, compelled by God to speak out.
Where does this leave us, who are neither great leaders, about to expire, nor prophets of the Lord?
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi David Greenstein
image: “ThePointer” © Gabe Austin altered and used with permission via Creative Commons License
- Toby Stein: In Memoriam - Thu, Feb 8, 2024
- Faithfulness and Hope: Parashat Sh’lach - Thu, Jun 23, 2022
- Past Their Prime: Parashat B’ha`a lot’kha - Thu, Jun 16, 2022