The holiday celebrates, once again, the completion of the yearly cycle of the Torah reading. The last few verses of the Torah recount the death of Moshe Rabbeinu, the outstanding individual in Jewish history, the Lawgiver, the central figure in the mighty drama of the Jews' exodus and their forty-year sojourn in the wilderness.
Recalling all the incidents in his life, which would one choose to illustrate his greatness? He negotiated with Pharaoh, mightiest ruler in the world. He urged the nation of fleeing slaves into the Red Sea. He bore with the Jewish people in their sorrow and pain and through their bitter denunciations of him when their water was bitter and their food lacking. He ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Tablets of the Torah.
The Midrash Rabbah. sets the scene: On the eve of the exodus, Moshe is coordinating all the activities attendant upon the departure of some three million people from Egypt. He must answer questions, field royal emissaries, attend to myriad details. To which responsibility did he turn first?
The Midrash tells us. "Why did Moshe merit [to be the one to give the Torah and lead the Jews out of Egypt]? While all the Israelites were busy [taking] the silver and gold of Egypt, Moshe was going through the city for three days and nights to find the coffin of Yosef."
Hundreds of years earlier, Yosef, as he lay dying, made the Jews promise they would take his bones with them when they left Egypt.
With the momentous moment of the exodus imminent. Moshe put all his effort into upholding this vow and finding Yosef's casket, which had been hidden by the Egyptians centuries earlier. But there was a problem: no one knew where the casket was.
Enter Serach bat Asher, Yosef's granddaughter, a woman two hundred years old, who ran into Moshe. Their conversation began with small talk, but Moshe, busy as he was, did not rush off.
It was she who knew where to find Yosef's body -- it had been brought to the Nile and sunk there. Moshe went to the river and after praying for a while, the coffin floated to the surface. Moshe carried it on his back on his way to lead the Jews out of bondage. Picture that! Moshe Rabbeinu carrying a coffin while the other Jews cart off gold and silver.
This summarizes the essence of Moshe's uniqueness and greatness. His concern for the important things in life qualified him to be the first leader of the Jewish people.
America is a youth-oriented society, adulating youthful vigor. Kennedy used to play football on the White House lawn and Clinton makes sure he is photographed jogging, while Bob Dole continues to rebut the perception that he is "too old for the job."
But Judaism respects old age, reveres the achievements of a lifetime of toil. Judaism also teaches that it is not the external trappings of glory that count but rather concern for others.
Surely we must ask ourselves how a Harvard graduate, a man with a Ph.D. from a prestigious university, could be the Unabomber. How could someone of that background and training kill so many people? All his years of education led to -- murder?
As we extol the brilliant scientists and the youthful technocrats, we must ask ourselves: is this the right way?
No. This is not the way of Judaism. Judaism states that even the most important person in the nation must take the time to be politely attentive to an old lady. Judaism also teaches that although everyone else may be busy amassing a fortune of gold and silver, the truly wise person concerns himself with keeping a centuries-old code of conduct.
As we finish reading the Torah and the begin again, let us remind ourselves of these timeless lessons and use this holiday as an opportunity for improvement and growth.
-Rabbi Alfred Cohen
Rabbi Cohen is Rabbi of Congregation Ohaiv Yisroel, Monsey, NY.
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