REQUEST DENIED

    Sad as it is, Moshe told us of his on-going petition to Hashem asking Him to allow Moshe to enter the land… dead or alive.  But to his and our chagrin, it will not happen.   Once Moshe was caught in the web of chilul Hashem, namely the episode of the waters in Meribah, he had crossed into the zone of the unforgivable.  “In truth,” Moshe remarked, “I knew of Hashem’s decree and I had indeed given up any hope of entering the land.  And then, I was thrust into the wars of both Sichon and Og and we won.  Reuven and Gad, along with a part of Menashe then came to me and requested the land that we just conquered as an inheritance, to which Hashem agreed.  Suddenly I realized that I was in what will be known as Greater Canaan, and I thought, “Maybe, just maybe, Hashem’s decree has been cancelled.”  After all, I was standing at the entrance, as it were, of the Promised Land.  I could taste it!  So I asked one last time, but to my distress, I was turned down once again and told that I should never ask about it again.  Of course Hashem was correct, for to constantly ask and be denied, would create another chilul Hashem.  Some people may argue that “the Master is unduly harsh and the student unduly persistent.”  So rather than risk such a possibility, I must just except that I will neither enter Canaan dead or alive.”

INNOVATION?  NO!

Also, wouldn’t it be wonderful if the kohanim, when reciting the 3-fold blessing, could add something on their own, seeing as they know our present day problems?  Well, forget about it!  Moshe was very strong about this as he said that we must neither add nor subtract from what Hashem commanded.  When asked why, he responded, “Because Hashem is perfect and His ways are perfect.  For us to begin making innovations in the law, it would mean that Hashem had missed something and needed us to fix it.  It is the ultimate height of arrogance which we must all stay away from.”

 MOSHE SETS UP CITIES OF REFUGE

  Even though the cities of refuge will not be operative until Canaan is conquered and settled, Moshe set the boundaries on this side of the Jordan.  Moshe explained, “The basic rule of B’nai Yisrael is that whenever one has the opportunity to observe a mitzvah, one should do so.   Although, the cities will remain inoperative for the time being, still, to have the chance to fulfill a mitzvah, even partially, is like a slice of Gan Eden…how could I pass it up?!”

YOU’D BETTER LOVE ME

command to love, for one cannot command how one feels. Rather it is an attitude in which to fulfill the commandments.  He said, “One should fulfill the commandments out of love for the Creator, understanding that the Creator knows what is best for His creations.  To illustrate this point, why do we listen to our parents even when we don’t understand their reasons?  Because we know that they wouldn’t do anything to harm us for to cause harm to us would really be causing harm to themselves.   This same logic is true with Hashem.  He would never command us to do anything that would be to our detriment.  Knowing this, He then “commands” us, as it were, to observe His commandments with this understanding and attitude.  And, better than observing out of fear, for when one only serves from fear, should the commandments appear to difficult, the person will tend to leave them.  But when done out of love, one will be mosar nefesh—give up one’s being to serve Hashem—when observing the laws and will gratefully fulfill them with all due fervor.”

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