Reply To: Short & Sweet

Devorim: Recovery & Eternity

Rashi points out that Moshe only chose to rebuke Klal Yisroel for all that they did wrong at the end of his life, as did Yaakov before him. But in the lifecycle of the Jewish people, why was it appropriate for them to be reminded of their mistakes specifically as they were preparing to enter Eretz Yisroel under Yehoshua?

Based upon the Ramban & Maharal, R’ Ahron Lopiansky has a wonderful explanation. Moshe rebuked Klal Yisroel not only to remind them of the mistakes that they still needed to fix, but also to remind them that they were capable of fixing those same mistakes.

Moshe knew that Klal Yisroel would only stay in Eretz Yisroel so long as Hashem deemed them worthy of remaining there. But Moshe sought to reinforce to the nation that even when we made mistakes and were exiled, all would not be lost.

What makes our nation eternal is the ability to do Teshuva, to correct course after we’ve strayed. Our ability to recover and regain our exalted status is what ensures that we will eventually be worthy of returning to Eretz Yisroel, despite whatever Aveiros or Galus temporarily entangle us. No matter how low we’ve fallen, we can always recover.

לע״נ דוד חיים בן ישראל דוב הכהן
לע״נ ר׳ חיים דוב בן ר׳ בןציון שלום
לרפ״ש זאב בן גאלדא