Vayeilech
Deut. 31:1-31:30
Précis: The Israelites are instructed to
annihilate the seven Canaanite nations and take possession of the Promised
Land. The death of Moses approaches, and he transfers his mantle of leadership
to Joshua as his successor. Moses orders regular reading of the Law, and then
transfers the written Torah into the hands of the Levites for safekeeping in
the Ark of the Covenant.
Deut. 31:1-11 “Moses
went and spoke these things to all Israel. He said to them: I am now one
hundred and twenty years old, I can no longer go out and come in, for God has
said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan.’"
Rabbi Jonathon Sacks has written about the challenge
of aging (Covenant and
Conversation 9/12/18), noting that it
has become a growing problem with the expansion of life expectancy in most of
the world. He asks us, “What will keep you young in spirit even if the body
does not always keep pace?” This is a challenge I find particularly intriguing (as I become eligible for the 70+ softball league next spring).
Moses, of course, is the case study for this challenge. Sacks cites David Brook’s concept of the “second mountain.” Brooks found that people over 70 had early in their lives identified the mountain they were going to climb, whether personal or professional. By age 70, some had achieved it and were happy, others had achieved it and found it unsatisfactory, and others failed to achieve their mountain top. Brooks found, however, that at this stage of life, many saw the need to name a second mountain they wanted to climb. But this “second mountain” was not about achievement, but rather of giving in a spiritual, moral way, such as giving back to the community. Sacks maintains that this “second mountain” may in fact be more important that its predecessor.
Moses is the paradigm. He had climbed the first mountain by being God’s servant and agent, and by leading His people from slavery to freedom. In the last stage of his journey he finally accepts the fact that he would not enter the Land. Moses now selects a “second mountain” by teaching Torah, warning the People not to stray. He provides what Sacks calls the “key verbs” of the Torah: “Remember, he says again and again; listen to the voice of God; rejoice in what He has given you.” Moses climbs his second mountain when he at last hands the leadership to Joshua.
Moses, of course, is the case study for this challenge. Sacks cites David Brook’s concept of the “second mountain.” Brooks found that people over 70 had early in their lives identified the mountain they were going to climb, whether personal or professional. By age 70, some had achieved it and were happy, others had achieved it and found it unsatisfactory, and others failed to achieve their mountain top. Brooks found, however, that at this stage of life, many saw the need to name a second mountain they wanted to climb. But this “second mountain” was not about achievement, but rather of giving in a spiritual, moral way, such as giving back to the community. Sacks maintains that this “second mountain” may in fact be more important that its predecessor.
Moses is the paradigm. He had climbed the first mountain by being God’s servant and agent, and by leading His people from slavery to freedom. In the last stage of his journey he finally accepts the fact that he would not enter the Land. Moses now selects a “second mountain” by teaching Torah, warning the People not to stray. He provides what Sacks calls the “key verbs” of the Torah: “Remember, he says again and again; listen to the voice of God; rejoice in what He has given you.” Moses climbs his second mountain when he at last hands the leadership to Joshua.
On Shabbat Shuvah, when our thoughts turn inward to self-analysis,
the “second mountain” suggests a life changing message for all of us: what we have done in our lives so far is in
the past; we have the chance to write another chapter. As Sacks says, “Hence the life-changing idea:
Whatever your achievements, there is always a second mountain to climb, and it
may turn out to be your greatest legacy to the future.”
May you and yours be sealed in the Book of Life with
health, prosperity, happiness, and the opportunity of finding your own “second
mountain.”
