The last Portion of the Week is also one of the most interesting. A prophet -- a great prophet, the greatest we ever had -- is about to die. He knows that. He heard it personally from God. He already designated a successor. He already warned his People – the Chosen People, no less – about the dire consequences of their deeds after his death. Now that he took care of all of that, one would think he would rest. But no. Moses is about to do one more great thing – a statement that nearly overshadows his previous "poem" to the People about how bad they are about to behave. Moshe’s last public act is a blessing; a long, detailed, complicated, mysterious, and very particular blessing, coming straight from “the man of God” (Deut. 33:1; note – not from God) to his People.
This great Blessing and its interpretation has been the subject of a long-standing debate among the best Jewish minds over the years. But today I would like to focus not on Moshe’s last public act, but rather on his last private act.
Moshe – A Man of Nature
The terms “hike leader” and “mountain climber” are rarely – if ever – associated with the man who is described later in this Portion as simply “the greatest of all time”: Never again did a prophet like Moses come about in Israel, a man which God knew face to face. (Deut. 34:10). Yet Moshe was probably the first, and no doubt the greatest, hike leader of them all. He led a 40-year hike through an extremely challenging terrain, without ever scouting it first. He never took a first-responder class. He never studied the maps before pushing inward, into the harsh desert. Yet he was amazingly successful. One may suspect, looking back through all these years, that it took a bit more than a mere faith in God to do that well. Moshe was, no doubt, a true outdoor person, and a natural-born leader.
And what is the appropriate ending for such an illustrious career in the back country? What was Moshe’s last private act? He did not sit and prayed to his God. He did not stand up and called for God's help. Quite the opposite: He climbed a mountain. Indeed, this 120-year old leader soloed – that is, climbed without help -- a 2,713 ft hill in the Jordanian desert, to the top of Mt. Nevo. Interestingly, the text is very explicit about that feat; unfortunately, all ten translations I reviewed miss that point (see http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/34-1.htm). The text reads, in essence:
Deut. 34:1
And Moshe went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nevo, the very top of the summit that faces Jericho. And God then showed him the entire land of Israel…
In other words, the text takes pains to emphasize that Moshe went up the entire way from below sea-level (Arvot Moav are located just north-east of the dead sea, which is the lowest point on the planet, at about -1,200 feet) to the top – the very top, as the text emphasizes – of this desert mountain. This singular feat is mostly overlooked by the Sages, but should be of interest to all us who - like yours truly – wish to bring together their love of nature and their respect of their Jewish identity. [This section is dedicated to my friend Alex S., who just moved to Colorado in search of this perfect balance.]
Moshe and Other Prophets
The other thing that always fascinated me about Moshe’s final moments was the complete inner peace in which he seemed to have been throughout the process. Despite knowing – from God personally – on his impending doom, Moshe just goes on to climb, to observe the scenery – perhaps the most beautiful he has ever seen, if we consider the desert-only view he had for the past 40 years – and to die peacefully. This true “man of God,” this one-of-a-kind “slave of God” never seemed to fear his coming death. This is remarkable, and also very commendable – almost inhuman.
In Hebrew, it is customary to say “from Moshe to Moshe, no one ever came close to Moshe.” Some interpret this saying as plainly as it sounds: Moshe was the only true, one prophet. Others interpret the second Moshe in this saying to mean the Rambam – Rabi Moshe Ben Minon, known here in America as Maimonides. In any event, since it has been more than 800 years from the time the last Moshe has been with us, we are quite short of true prophets.
Yet not long ago, here in this country, a prophet came about. This person was so unique, that Rabbi Heschel, the great Jewish thinker, said about him that “[He] is a sign that God has not forsaken the United States of America. God has sent him to us.” I am speaking, of course, of Dr. Martin Luther King, who, despite being an ordained reverend, was no doubt an honorary member of the Chosen People. And what were this special person’s last public words? What were the words he chose to tell his People the evening before being assassinated outside room 306 of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis? Here are his exact words:
MLK’s “Mountaintop” Speech, April 3, 1968:
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!
Those who read our Portion this week will easily recognize: these are the true words of a man of God.
Shabbat Shalom,
Doron
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