“Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy” … In the Nvi’im, the Prophets, traditional Jews read Isaiah talking about his depression and his belief that ‘This is not as good as it gets.’ ‘Someday,’ he promises, ‘God will return to his loving guardianship of Israel and will bring comfort to the unfaithful bride that he turned away from.’ In the Torah, we read about Moshe’s impending death and how he negotiated his awareness that not only must he die — as all creatures must — but that he would have no special prize waiting for him … ‘no El Al tickets,this time, Moish.’
God would not say to him (as it is not written):
“Moish … Lookie, here. We’ve had our differences ... Our Good Times and our Not-So-Good Times. You did pretty well for a Tinok she’Nisshbah … an infant who was carried off to be raised by others. You married pretty well. That Tzippy was some Aishes Chayil … some Strong-Willed and Good Woman. Remember when you got all Fitchatted about having to snip Lil’ Gershon’s foreskin. Tzippy did the Snippy … all by herself while you were Chalishing avec (lying on some fainting couch). Some lady, you chose!
‘Now, though, you’re an alter kacker, it’s hard for you to even hold your arm up during wars, giving me time to do my wartime magic of beating up these real tough-guys on the Road to Cana’an. I’m really sad to say: “it’s time for you to pass on, Moish, just as your brother, Aharon did … it’s time. One Hundred Twenty Years! Most people, my poet David will someday say, only get 70 years … and even warriors? usually only 80. You got 50% more because I loved you.” ‘
But back to the ranch. A few weeks ago, I pointed out that Old Moish not only begged for a dispensation from the Big Guy/Gal, but in that week’s parsha/weekly-reading and later, he reamed out the Children of Israel (cut them a new one, as the kids say). He reminded them of every mistake they made … even told them where they were vacationing in the Sinai and Trans-Jordan when they screwed-up, big-time. He was like a Father who wants to go on a long road trip and reminds the kids of how they misbehaved and at what Turnpike Mile-Marker they messed up. ‘At mile=post 123.8 on the Ohio Tpk, you, Yankele, threw a stuffed bear at Chayim Schmeryl and it hit the windshield. It coulda killed us all and I coulda killed you … but I didn’t! DidI? I was good and you were paskunyaks, no better than highway robbers that we pray won’t attack us in the Tfillas ha’Derech (Prayer for Safe Travel) we recited before that trip I promised you would be so great. Oy! And at Milepost 322.7 of the Penn Tpk, you kvetched and moaned about needing the bathroom. “Wasn’t it better,” you asked, “back in Podunk before this fershtunkene trip when we could pee anytime we wanted?” ‘
But Moish goes further and calls them Stupid (עם נבל) and not-Wise (ולא חכם). He tells them that they’re stubborn and stiff-necked (עם קשה עורף) … and on and on and on. Soon and in two weeks later in our readings (Ki Savoh) of Moshe’s version of “On the Road,” he’s gonna spend 54 Psukim (sentences) telling them of the curses that will befall them … when they don’t listen.
But credit where credit is due. I heartily recommend this Parsha as a Father trying hard to charge his kids. He tells them to establish a fair and equitable system of government. He even (according to the Masters in Tract. Sanhedrin [7b, maybe?] and Tract. Avodah Zarah [I have no memory of where that is … but it’s there]) compares the establishment of bad leaders to idolatry. כל המעמיד דין שאינו הגון כאילו נטע אשירה אצל מזבח ה׳ … which in 2019, I’d translate (with license) as: Anyone who supports a putz like our President might as well be practicing idolatry in Shul! (literal translation: He who supports a judicial leader who isn’t fit? It’s as if he planted a Tree for Idolatry near the Altar of God … close enough!)
He goes on but I won’t for more than a bit. He tells them just how important an honest government and judiciary is … how venal it is to provide false testimony and how we must gird our loins with sharp swords when we meet the enemy and how we must have faith in order to proceed. He tells us just how important it is that the Leader be not too rich … that he be like us and chosen from among us … and how he must himself write the complete Torah, so that he may know and follow the Law. No one is above the Law! And he does it with almost the level of poetry he brings elsewhere in order to curse them. Enuff … “You can read,” as my oldest grandchild used to say when she was 2 to any adult, as she handed them a book. She’s, now, 20 and trying to survive on a college campus where anti-Israeli sentiment is coin-of-the-realm.
I do hope that I can charge my progeny with hopeful love and guidance when it is my turn to say good-bye. I will close with recommending that readers look at this week’s readings … Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 and Isaiah 51 and fascinate about how they hope to tidy things up at the End of (their) Days. “You can read!”
Gutte Shabbos, America!