A Yom Kippur Reflection
by Rabbi Avi Weiss

Parshat Va-Yelekh
September 25-6, 1998/ 6 Tishrei 5759

The first three words of this week's portion, Va-Yelekh Moshe va-yedaber, "and Moses went and spoke" (Deuteronomy 31:1) stand out.  Usually the Torah will tell us that Moshe simply spoke. What does the term va-yelekh add?

Perhaps va-yelekh, here towards the completion of the Torah, echoes the first words of God to Avraham (Abraham) way back in the beginning of the Torah, when Avraham is told-Lekh Lekha, surely you shall go.   (Genesis 12:1)

It can be suggested that the word Lekh is similar to the term halakha, which is commonly understood to mean Jewish law.  In the lives of both Avraham and Moshe, the halakha is central. Indeed, God tells Avraham very specifically, "hithalekh, (walk before Me)," or "follow the halakha and you will find completion." (Genesis 17:1)   And here in our portion after the phrase "Va-Yelekh Moshe," our responsibility to follow Torah law is described. (Deuteronomy 31:12)

Ultimately the goal of halakha, of Torah, is to guide the Jewish people to be the catalyst for a world redeemed.

This theme finds expression on Yom Kippur day.  Consider the Book of Jonah read in the afternoon.

Jonah, whose name literally means "dove," the bird of peace, represents the Jewish people.  He is told by God to go to Ninveh, the capital of Assyria the arch enemy of Israel, to preach the message of Torah ethics.  Jonah refuses, and instead boards a ship for Tarshish -180 degrees in the opposite direction of Nineveh.

The ship can be viewed as a microcosm of the entire world as its passengers speak 70 languages - the symbolic number of all the nations of the earth. The waters beneath the ship are turbulent, indicative of the entire world in turmoil.

As Jonah escapes to the bowels of the ship--reflective of the Jew who runs from challenges-lots are cast to see who is responsible for the choppy waters. Jonah's lot is chosen..

Interestingly, the Hebrew term for "lots," goral, can also mean fate.  In other words, this lottery  underscores  the fate of the Jewish people to do all in its power to bring peace and calm to a turbulent world.

In the end of course, Jonah goes to Ninveh, preaches the message of God and the people of Ninveh repent.

No wonder we read the portion of Va-Yelekh the Shabbat before the reading of Jonah on Yom Kippur.  Va-Yelekh speaks to the message of perfecting the world through halakhah.   Jonah reverberates this theme - as his mandate is to achieve global repentance (teshuvah), and thus "fix the world under the reign of the Almighty."

SHABBAT SHALOM

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Rabbi Avi Weiss, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale
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