This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Vayelech (Deuteronomy 31:1-30). As we celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, this parasha is one of the last of the Torah cycle and is read between the holidays. 

 

Vayelech, “and he went,” refers to Moses after Hashem tells him he will not join the Israelites on the final leg of their journey into Israel, and that Joshua will accompany them instead. Moses tells the people that Hashem will keep them safe from those wanting to destroy them, then asks them to follow the commandments and not to fear their enemies: “Be strong and courageous! Neither fear, nor be dismayed of them, for the Lord your God is the One Who goes with you. He will neither fail you, nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). 

 

Moses then speaks with Joshua, reminding him of Hashem’s words. Hashem commands that all the people come to listen and learn from the readings. Children are given special mention to ensure they will learn the words of the Lord. Hashem tells Moses and Joshua that He has faith in the next leader. Hashem also reveals that He believes His people will “forsake Me and violate My covenant which I made with them” (Deut. 31:16). Hashem will then “hide My face from them” (Deut. 31:18) so He does not have to witness their negative behaviors. 

 

Believing that Joshua and the Israelites will not be true to the Lord’s covenant, Hashem asks Moses to write a song for the people to pass on and remember words and lessons from the Torah. The scrolls are given to the priests to bring to the Ark of the Covenant. Moses asks Joshua to bring the elders and officers together so he can teach his song to them.

 

According to Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the ‘song’ Moses is asked to write is actually the Torah. These books—beautifully referred to as ‘song’ in a religion where music is so important—are the integral part of Jewish life and help each generation of Jews keep the words relevant in their daily lives, making the Torah a document of the past, present and future. 

 

Many interesting events take place in this parasha: Moses prepares Joshua to become the leader of the Israelites; everyone—no matter age or gender, whether friend or stranger—is invited to learn from the Torah; and Moses worries that his community will lose its moral and religious way after he is gone. At this time of year, the parasha reminds us that we Jews are a cohesive people, a true community loved by the same G-d. These lessons are particularly important for Jews of the Diaspora.

 

Moses is ready to launch the Israelites; he is ready to give up his time at the helm and allow the next leader to work with the people. He understands there is more to life than being the leader; the job of preparing the next leader and the ones to follow is as important as the leading itself.  

 

A major aspect of one’s job as a parent, leader, advisor or mentor is to launch the next generation. A parent feels success and satisfaction when her child is able to successfully leave for college or any next phase of life and start a new chapter. We spend years teaching our children, employees and others important to us the skills they need to be independent while also providing them with ‘reasons’ to remain part of the family and the community.  

 

This is particularly important to those of us who serve on the NWP board. We have learned from the women who served on the board before us and from women and other leaders in our home communities, around the country and around the world. It is our job to give that same training to the next generations of leaders.

 

Despite how successfully we prepare our charges to lead, we must accept that there will be some rebellion against our teachings and wisdom. We hope that our teachings and lessons—based on core Jewish values—will help shape the next generation, and that those who lose the lessons will find their way back home.

 

We must also learn from Moses’ grace in giving up leadership responsibilities when the time was right. It is often difficult to step aside so others may take over. Moses worked a lifetime to enter the land of milk and honey and, despite never getting there, he led us to the edge, allowing Joshua to complete the task.

 

It is our responsibility to help teach the song of individual and communal essence, the song of our Torah, complete with the sways, tempo changes, high and low melodies— exactly what Hashem hoped Moses could provide the people of Israel. 

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Jessica           

 

Jessica Zachs

First Year NWP Board Member