Va’etchanan – Tisha B’Av and faith in salvation and the continuity of generations / Yedidya Bejell

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“I pleaded with God at that time, saying,
“O my Sovereign God , You who let Your servant see the first works of Your greatness and Your mighty hand, You whose powerful deeds no god in heaven or on earth can equal!
Let me, I pray, cross over and see the good land on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country, and the Lebanon.
But God was wrathful with me on your account and would not listen to me. God said to me, “Enough! Never speak to Me of this matter again!
Go up to the summit of Pisgah and gaze about, to the west, the north, the south, and the east. Look at it well, for you shall not go across yonder Jordan.
Give Joshua his instructions, and imbue him with strength and courage, for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he shall allot to them the land that you may only see”
 
The Book of Deuteronomy – “devarim” is Moses’ concluding speech, taking place at the gates of the Land of Israel’ on the occasion of the end of the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Torah, and the 40 years in the desert. The bulk of the first parsha “dvarim” is a historical overview of the events that led up to this point.
Parashat “Vaetchanan” begins at the end of the historical section of Moshe’s speech, and commences the part which focuses on the review of the Torah. This portion includes some of the most important Parshiot, including the Ten Commandments and the Shema.
At this point,Moses talks about his plea to enter the land, which was ultimately rejected. It highlights a moment of personal tragedy for him. What is the place of this affair here?
The simple way to explain this – Moses is now passing on the torch to the people of Israel, and this is its opening: I have led you to the point where I can. This is the end of the road for me. Now you the people of israel need to take it from here. continue the path and fulfill your destiny in the Land of Israel:
 
“And now, Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to do, that you may live and go in and possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.”
 
From there, Moses continues with a review of the Torah, warnings, and commandments prior to entering the Land.
In light of Tisha B’Av, which falls this week, we can offer another perspective. For generations, the annual observance of Tisha B’Av and additional fast days has served as a commemoration of the destruction and the ongoing difficulties of exile. Rather than solely functioning as a period of mourning for past disasters, these fasts emphasize a steadfast hope and desire for ultimate redemption. Although numerous generations have engaged in fasting, prayer, and entreaties for this deliverance without witnessing its fulfillment, the people of Israel continue to maintain their prayers and faith, holding onto the belief that redemption might yet occur within their own lifetime.
Moses serves as an example of a generation that fervently believed, pleaded, and prayed to witness the completion of redemption but did not live to see it. In this moment, he imparts a profound lesson in faith to the people of Israel. Though he is denied the privilege of entering the land, he demonstrates that the historical chain remains unbroken, continuing forward even when we cannot perceive the next steps from where we stand. Consequently, it is vital for him to illuminate the continuation of the journey for Israel, ensuring the path remains clear even if he himself cannot partake in it.
Later in the parsha, Moshe shows that the future holds at least additional rounds of exile and redemption:
 
“I declare to you today that the heavens and the earth will be utterly destroyed. Hurry up and leave the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live long on it, for it will be utterly destroyed.”
And the LORD will scatter you among the nations.And you will be left among the nations where the LORD will lead you to his name.
And there you will serve gods, the work of human hands, wood and stone, which cannot see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
And you shall seek the LORD your God from them, and he will find you, and you shall seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
And all these things shall come upon thee, and thou shalt find them in the latter days, and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt hearken unto his voice.
For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.“
Though we may fall, we will search for Hashem and find Him, as He remains committed to fulfilling the covenant established with our ancestors.. May we be privileged to see complete redemption in our generation.

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