From Finish to Start!
by Rabbi YD Merling
We have just experienced the great blessing of the Yomim Tovim. As we restart anew, this Shabbos is called Shabbos Bereishis, not only because we read Parshas Bereishis in shul, but because it is a ‘Reishis’, a beginning of our new year in service of Hashem.
The custom in Europe was to say a pilpul connecting the end of the Torah to the beginning. Referring to the uniqueness of the great acts of Moshe Rabbeinu, the Torah Hakedoshah concludes with the words:
וּלְכֹל֙ הַיָּ֣ד הַחֲזָקָ֔ה וּלְכֹ֖ל הַמּוֹרָ֣א הַגָּד֑וֹל אֲשֶׁר֙ עָשָׂ֣ה מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
And for all the great might and awesome power that Moshe displayed before the eyes of all Israel.
Rashi explains that this pasuk is referring specifically to Moshe having broken the Luchos in front of the eyes of the Jewish People. Hashem agreed with Moshe’s decision, and gave him a Yasher Koach.
One might assume that the breaking of the Luchos is meant to display Moshe’s unique ability to understand and apply Torah principles. It is certainly a testament to Moshe’s wisdom that he could correctly make such a drastic decision in a moment. However, it seems from the language of Rashi, and that of the pasuk itself, that the display of Moshe’s greatness was not simply in his lightning-fast halachic ruling, but even more that it was done “before the eyes of all Israel.” What is the particular significance of who was watching?
I would venture that even if breaking the Luchos was the right choice, it would have been easy to rationalize that breaking them in front of the entire nation was too extreme. After all, they had been waiting for so long for the Torah! Perhaps it could be seen as a Chilul Hashem to break Hashem’s Luchos publicly. But Moshe’s clarity of vision, his awareness of being in Hashem’s presence allowed him to realize that these thoughts were not correct; such ideas would have been fueled by a fear of the people; a fear of losing their love and admiration. His ability to see past that and to fearlessly break the Luchos in front of everyone, in order to shock them into doing Teshuva, is the truest statement of Moshe’s unique greatness.
The Torah begins with Bereishis. Rashi explains that grammatically the word Bereishis doesn’t actually mean “In the beginning,” but “For the beginning,” referring to both the Jewish People and the Torah. One might reason that if the whole world is for us, we could choose any way of life which we think works for us. However, the next two pesukim hint otherwise:
וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹקים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹקים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר׃
The earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and the spirit of G-d hovering over the water. G-d said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
When the spirit of Hashem was only hovering, there was confusion. Maybe there is some other way than Hashem’s way? The next pasuk answers: when Hashem says “Let there be light,” only then is there light. Only Hashem’s Torah can light our way. All those who thought they could compromise or find an alternate way to life were not successful. We should learn from here that only the way of Hashem’s Torah is true. There is no one to fear except Hashem, and no harm will come when we trust him and do what’s right.
Have a great Shabbos and a successful year!