BH
Carrying Our Name
Vezot Haberacha, the final Parsha of the Torah, is read on Simchat Torah, the day we rejoice with the Torah. It is also when we read of Moshe's passing, making it a fitting time to reflect on Moshe and his legacy.
We read, "The Torah which Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the congregation of Jacob" (Devarim 33:4). Moshe is described not only as the one who taught the Torah, but as part of its very transmission. The prophet Malachi goes further, calling us to "remember the Torah of Moshe" (Malachi 3:22).
Why would the Torah, given to the Jewish People by G-d, be called the Torah of Moshe?
Rabbi Shem Tov ibn Shem Tov explains that this teaches a powerful lesson about Moshe's legacy and a call to action for every Jew.
When G-d entrusted Moshe with leading the Jewish People, he embraced the mission with absolute devotion. He became so consumed with caring for them that G-d later calls them "your people" (Shemot 32:7).
The same is true of the Torah. Moshe did not merely transmit it, he dedicated himself to it completely, spending forty days and nights on Mount Sinai without food or drink (Shemot 34:28).
This, says Rabbi Shem Tov, is why the Torah is called Moshe's. When a person fully commits to a purpose, it becomes called by his name. The Torah is Moshe's Torah and the Jewish People are Moshe's people, because that is what he lived for.
When we mention a righteous person, we add "zecher tzaddik livracha," the memory of the righteous is for a blessing (Mishlei 10:7). This is usually understood as our blessing their memory and soul. Rabbi Shem Tov reads it differently. When we remember the righteous and speak of their lives, we are inspired to act as they did. Viewed this way, the blessing is not something we say, but something we do and become, keeping their legacy alive.
Just as Moshe devoted himself to the Torah and to his people, may we devote ourselves fully to our Jewish identity and to helping others, so that our Judaism and our acts of kindness truly carry our name.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach
