To remain a beginner
At the start of Vaetchanan Moses recalls to the Jewish people how he prayed to God to allow him entry to the land of Israel
He begins with the words:
You, O G‑d, have begun to show Your servant Your greatness (3:24)
The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760 founder of the Chassidic movement) comments “!oses was G‑d’s faithful servant, the greatest of the prophets, the recipient of the Torah from G‑d. Yet after 120 years of the most G‑dly life ever lived, he sees himself as only having begun in his relationship with G‑d!”
The beauty of Judaism is that through the intricate web of Mitvzot we build a relationship with Hashem but no matter how much we try to connect to Him there is always more to discover. Hashem is limitless His essence always seeming to elude man’s conscious grasp.
We should never think or believe that “we have made it”. This allows for a fresh and healthy approach to life where there is always more to learn.
The prerequisite for this attitude is humility – the realisation that I am not the centre of the universe.
Can you remember back to your first day at high school when you were filled with awe and trepidation at the unknown journey that lies ahead yet equally filled with excitement to experience something totally new!
Moses lived each and every day of life in connection with God like a child on his or her first day to school.
May we all be blessed to choose this way of life where every day is new, pregnant with explosive potential and inspiration.
The verse in this weeks portion “and you who cleave (or held fast) to Hashem are alive today!” which we recite just before the leining now takes on new meaning.
Of course a person who is breathing and biologically functioning is alive.
But life is more than just biology. Life in connection with a higher being that is infinite is true life. To that we say Le’Chaim!.
We are always going to be beginners in our journey towards infinite.
This is what Moses taught us.
Shabbat Shalom