Standing and Walking

               Following are two introductory comments on Parashat vaYelech, taken from my father’s writings.

            The previous parasha is Nitzavim (and most years, vaYelech is combined with Nitzavim). The two parashot translate: “standing” and “he walked,” symbolically teaching that one must first stand firmly to hear the word of God, and then one will have the strength to walk and advance oneself. After accepting God’s covenant (the content of Nitzavim), one will be able to advance.

            The final parashot of the Torah convey Moses’ farewell address to the people whom he led out of Egyptian slavery, for whom he cared and suffered during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness of Sinai, and to whom he taught Torah. In fact, Parashat vaYelech was spoken to Israel on the final day of Moses’ life [Deuteronomy 31:2].

            As throughout his prophetic career, in his final words to his flock, Moses demonstrated that his concern for his people stood above his own needs. Unlike a contemporary leader who, no doubt would use his farewell address to review his personal achievements, Moses, “the faithful shepherd” related to the people’s needs, not to his own legacy. The focus of Moses’ words is to prepare Israel for realizing their destiny of entering their Land and building the Land up in the spiritual as well as mundane spheres.