Parshas Va'eschanan - Moshe's Entreaty to Enter the Land

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July 13 2009
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The opening aliyah of this week's parshah details how Moshe Rabbeinu entreated Hashem to be permitted to enter Eretz Yisroel after the wars with Sichon and Og, and how Moshe's request was denied. The parshah (aliyos 2-7) then moves to the next major theme of Sefer Devarim - that of inspiring and encouraging B'nei Yisroel to adhere to the Torah. Moshe goes way back in time, relating the Sinai experience and its binding covenant for all generations of Jews, and he exhorts the people to not stray from Hashem's Word in the time to come. (The next two parshiyos continue with this general theme of inspiring and encouraging observance of the Torah.)


Why is the narrative of Moshe's petition to be permitted to enter the Land contained in Parshas Va'eschanan, as its first aliyah? It would seem that the parshah should have begun with the second aliyah, for the topic of the first aliyah is more related to Parshas Devarim, which details the events in Sefer Bamidbar from the Sin of the Meraglim onwards. Starting with the second aliyah, Parshas Va'eschanan commences a new, general theme which begins from the point of Matan Torah, spanning three parshiyos; the first aliyah, concerning Moshe's petitioning Hashem, thus appears to be unrelated, and it seemingly should have been part of Parshas Devarim, due to both content and context.


Rashi (on Devarim 3:23, from Sifri) explains that Moshe entreated Hashem to be granted permission to enter Eretz Yisroel after the conquest of Sichon and Og due to Moshe's suspicion that Hashem's decree ("oath") which forbade Moshe entry to the Land had been annulled. Moshe thought that since he lived to see the settlement of the tribes of Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe, Hashem had revoked His ban on Moshe's passage into Eretz Yisroel. (Sifsei Chachamim, from Gur Aryeh)


It would seem that this narrative serves as the perfect introduction to Parshas Va'eschanan. As noted, the bulk theme of the parshah is adherence to the Torah and its binding character for all future generations. The story of Moshe's supplication and its denial are illustrative of the binding, irrevocable and permanent nature of the Torah. Whereas Moshe thought that Hashem had nullified His oath, Moshe was informed that it was not so. Moshe thus presented this event as a preamble to his exhortation to keep the Torah for eternity, for he wished to emphasize that the Torah is immutable, even in situations in which one would have reason to believe that a change had been made.

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    Learning on the Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah site is sponsored today by Judy & Mark Frankel & family l'ilui nishmos מרדכי בן הרב משה יהודה ע"ה and משה יהודה ז"ל בן מאיר אליהו ויהודית