Rabbi's Blog

Language and speech can be a very tricky at times. Sometimes we say something and don't realize or appreciate what we've actually said. There are websites dedicated to phraseology, focusing on how a shift of emphasis can give completely different meaning, sometimes funny and sometimes down-right embarrassing, to what was said. On the other hand, there are times when words which that come from our lips are pure gems, giving deep meaning to the simple vocabulary we've used. And, finally there are those rare times when we may make a statement which somehow is profound, expressing wisdom we didn't know we had!

A common occurrence that we have all been faced with is standing and waiting for the elevator. If we are standing on a floor other than the bottom or top floors, there will usually be two buttons to choose from. Presumably, I push the top button if my intention is to go to a higher floor and the bottom button if I want to reach a lower floor. (The following information is something you the reader never thought about). The fact is that it is irrelevant which button you push. Even if you want to go to a lower floor, the elevator will continue in the direction that it was going, based entirely upon the button that was pushed by the person the inside the elevator. For example; if you were on the fifth floor and wanted to go to the second floor, you probably would push the bottom button. If the elevator has someone in it and is already going to the eighth floor, then the elevator will go to the eighth floor and then come back to get you on the fifth floor and continue down to the second. Nevertheless, when the person is going to the eighth floor the elevator will stop on the fifth, the doors will open and you probably will ask, "Going down"? And the person will answer," No. Sorry, it's going up"!

This past Rosh Hashana I looked out from the bima of the Shul and saw people whom I was proud of and some who I was pained to see. Some individuals and families have grown while others are barely doing the things religiously and spiritually which they once did. I also thought about the people who were once part of Beth Jacob and have gone to grow spiritually in other cities and countries. Then I began to tear up thinking about those who were once part of Beth Jacob and were strong in their convictions within Orthodox Judaism and are not found in any Jewish venue..... oy.

In this week's Parsha Vayeilech, Moshe Rabbeinu is preparing to depart from the Jewish nation. In Devarim 31:1 the Torah states "Vayeilech Moshe Vayidaber Es Kal Hadevarim HaEleh el Kal Yisrael": "Moshe went and spoke these words to all of Israel". A curious Rashi on this verse only quotes the first two words and then says, "etc." In the earlier editions of Rashi the word V'Gomer, meaning etc., does not appear. Putting this aside the Torah does not explain where Moshe is off to.

The Seforno links this Vayeilech of Moshe to an earlier Vayeilech in Shemos when it says, "Vayeilech Ish MiBeis Levi" when Moshe's father went out from the house of Levi and married his mother, Yocheved. The word Vayeilech will become synonymous with Moshe and is the symbol for Moshe - he will never just stand around; he will always be on the go. He forever had a desire and a thirst to raise himself spiritually to higher levels. The Ramban explains that Moshe went to each and every member of Klal Yisrael to inform them of his departure from the world and that they should not worry upon his death. This, the Ramban says, is also part of 'Holeich': he is going to help raise the spirits of his fellow Jews. According to some opinions there was no-where else for Moshe to go, and therefore it was time for Hashem to call him up to Shamayim.

Moshe's entire life was trying to climb the ladder of spirituality in order to get closer to God. Part of his own personal growth is attributed to his caring for and working for the Jewish people. He was never satisfied with the current level of the Jewish people's relationship to Hashem and with his own spiritual quest. His life was centered upon climbing higher and higher. Perhaps this is what Rashi meant when he just used the Hebrew word for etc.: Moshe, throughout his life, would continue to climb higher and higher.

During the Aseres Yemei Teshuva we need to ask ourselves one question are we going up or down? We must ask ourselves, if we are in a better or worse spiritual situation than we were a year ago. We must ask the honest and difficult questions DO WE WANT TO BE GOING UP or... could we care less and just plunge down? We must ask ourselves" Why am I investing so much money and time for Jewish education, kosher food, and other mitzvos if I truly don't care about going down?"

The next time you're on an elevator and it stops at a floor and someone asks you, "Going up or going down?" Think of it in these terms, not only in the physical direction of the elevator. Our spiritual lives have ups and downs. Are we pushing the correct buttons in order to go in the right direction? Sometimes we need to get out of one elevator if it's broken or stuck in one place and use an alternative method in order to keep pushing ourselves up.

Wishing everyone a meaningful and easy fast this Yom Kippur, may we all be inscribed and sealed in all of the good books and may each of us consciously focus throughout the coming year to work on moving up, to continue to get closer to our Maker in Heaven.

Ah Gut Shabbos Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky