Vayaylekh

“I am 120 years old today,” Moshe rabbenu tells the people.    Tradition holds that we wish one another such a full life of 120 years of vigor and accomplishments.  As Moshe publicly transfers the mantle of leadership to Joshua he urges the Israelite nation to continually familiarize themselves with Torah.

While many leaders seek to make themselves indispensable and their people invulnerable to enemies Moshe charges his people with becoming steeped in Torah learning.  Such a command was unheard of before.  Study is the legacy of our leader of two generations?  Not building fortifications and capturing lands and valuables?

Yet that is why we preserved while other religions and nations crumbled.  Moshe told Joshua Hazak v’Ematz!, “Be strong and of good courage.”  While other nations rattle their sabers you fill the study halls with godliness.

As a result of such direction we have survived millennia of building and destruction, bursts of unparalleled knowledge even when forced into ghettos.  And we will always be here as long as we remain resolute in our pursuit of Torah knowledge and growth.

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