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Moshe, understandably, is upset, disappointed, distraught. He so much wanted to enter Israel, along with the nation. That would be the crowning achievement of his career. It would be the opportunity to fulfill Mitzvot that cannot be kept outside of Israel. It would be the answer to his many prayers and pleas to Hashem. But it was not to be; a new generation coming into a new land would have a new leader.
But what is so hard to comprehend is why Moshe blames the people for this! After all, Moshe is (ostensibly) being punished for striking the rock at Mei M'riva, rather than speaking to it; wasn't that his offense, and not the nation's? True, the people did anger Moshe with all their many complaints, but it seems that Hashem criticizes Moshe, not Bnei Yisrael, for what happens there. So why shift the blame to the people? It seems so out of character for the man who spent his life nurturing and defending us!
Some want to suggest that Moshe is saying, "Had you, the nation, not supported the negative report of the Spies, then we would have immediately entered Israel, rather than be punished with 40 years of wandering. Then the incident of the rock never would have even occurred, and all of us - you and me - would have straightaway come into the land!
But I want to suggest something else, something that is more in keeping with the kind of leader Moshe was.
I believe Moshe is saying to the people, "My fate is inextricably interwoven with your fate. I may be the leader, but I am just one of you - we are one nation. If you can't go into Israel, then neither can I. We rise - and we fall - as one." This, consistently, is the Moshe who earlier described Israel as, "Ha-am asher anochi b'kirbo - the nation of which I am but one." (Bamidbar 11:21).
Moshe is not just being humble; he is teaching us that the nation comes first, and that the leader's greatness is a direct product of the nation's greatness. If we are at a high level, we will surely produce leaders who are themselves superior. But if we are not up to the task, we will be governed by those who reflect our own shortcomings, and we will pay the price for it..
Winston Churchill was one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century. On many occasions, he remarked how he drew his strength and stamina from the courage and conduct of the British people, who heroically withstood "the Blitz" and the Battle of Britain, when England's citizenry was mercilessly bombed night and day by the Nazis. They held fast, they would not kneel to tyranny, and this inspired Churchill also to never give in.
Moshe is leaving us with a crucial message for the rest of history: When leaders fail, it is because we have failed. And when leaders persevere and succeed, it is directly due to our own success as a nation. We are the mirror that reflects our destiny.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
