Divrei Vayeilech
Delay
“And Hashem told Moshe, ‘Behold, your days to die have come close.’” (Devarim 31:14) The Midrash (Devarim Rabbah 11:10) gives a behind-the-scene view of Moshe Rabeinu’s desperate attempt to survive. It notes that the Chumash mentions Moshe’s petirah ten times, including this posuk, in order “to teach that it was decreed upon Moshe ten times that he should not enter Eretz Yisroel, yet the decision was not sealed until it was revealed in the Heavenly Court. At that time, when Hashem informed Moshe, the matter was light in Moshe’s eyes. He gave a logical argument: ‘Israel sinned terribly over and over again, yet when I asked Hashem for mercy upon them, it was immediately accepted; I never sinned from my youth onwards, all the more so that when I will pray for myself, that it will be accepted!’
“When Hashem saw that the matter was light in Moshe’s eyes, and that he did not stand to pray immediately, He swore in His great Name that Moshe would not enter Eretz Yisroel.
“When Moshe saw that the decree had been sealed, he declared a personal fast upon himself, then drew a small circle, stood inside it, and declared, ‘I will not move from here until that decree is annulled.’ Putting on sackcloth, he covered himself with ashes and immersed himself in such prayer and supplications that heaven, earth, and the entire order of Creation were shaken to the point that they wondered, ‘Perhaps Hashem intends to destroy and recreate His universe?!?’ (A Heavenly voice assured them that Hashem had no such desire.) Hashem in turn ordered that every single gate of every level of Shomayim, and every Heavenly court, not accept the onslaught of Moshe’s prayers, which were an unstoppable sword which rips and tears.”
The Midrash continues with Moshe’s struggle, his acceptance of the decree, and his death. HaRav Aharon Kotler zt”l takes a deeper look into the dynamics of this Midrash and its message for us today. Certainly, Moshe had a solid argument – a kal v’chomer, which is Torah-sanctioned logic – and he planned to pray, as well. Still, Hashem considered the matter light in Moshe’s eyes, enough to both seal His decree with an oath, a combination so potent that the Gemara (Rosh HaShanah 18a) tells us it is impermeable to prayer, and also to enforce a spiritual lockdown to Moshe’s forceful entreaties. Why? Says Rav Kotler: Because Moshe did not motivate himself to pray immediately upon hearing of the decree, it was considered light in his eyes, and therefore, the decree was utterly sealed. Even though Moshe’s prayers alone would and should have sufficed to overturn the decree; once it was sealed, even his superhuman efforts failed.
This event changed history; Chazal tell us that had Moshe entered Eretz Yisroel, he and Klal Yisroel would never have left. In other words, the one-and-only Bais HaMikdash would have been built, and we would never have suffered all the losses – ten shevatim, two exiles, and so on --- that we have seen for the past three millennia.
The message is clear, says Rav Kotler. When a Jew receives any call for action – be it an inspiring idea from a sefer or a cautionary thought from his or another’s suffering – he should respond on the spot, right then and there, for any delay would show that he does not consider the action a priority. Should he delay, he has dug a hole for himself; and even if he did make extra effort, as Moshe did, his chances are far more limited than if he had jumped at the original chance.
This time of year especially, when teshuvah is especially accepted on High, we have an obligation to motivate ourselves to improve. As we know, those of us who enter Neilah on Yom Kippur both cold spiritually and hungry physically, will inevitably leave it even colder and hungrier.