D’varim
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
Isaiah 1:1-27
“These are the words that Moses addressed to all Israel on the other side of the Jordan…. It was in the 40th year, on the first day of the 11th month, that Moses addressed all the Israelites in accordance with the instructions that the Eternal had given for them” (Deuteronomy 1:1-4).
Although past cinematography may stifle our own imagination, let us visualize this scene. Moses stands on top of a mountain and utters these words to the Israelites below.
How many Israelites? If we take the second census in Numbers into consideration and figure more than 601,730 men ages 20 or older (counted as such for military purposes), plus the 23,000 Levite males a month old and up, and consider the approximate number of females and children not otherwise counted (as biblical scholars have done), we are looking at 1.5 to 2 million people. Not a small crowd!
How are we to comprehend the scene in which Moses can speak to all of these people?
Ellis Rivkin, in “The Dynamics of Jewish History,” writes that a traditional view held that a miracle made this possible, similar to the way in which Judah’s voice was said to be heard in all of Egypt when he spoke on behalf of his brother Benjamin in Genesis.
Other commentators, like Solomon Ephraim Lencicz, note that “all of Israel” is a common phrase in Deuteronomy. It is often used referring to Moses speaking only to Joshua, the elders, and the priests, only. Therefore we should understand this address being given to those with responsibility for the masses.
Preferring the former understanding — that all the multitude of Israel was gathered together and that somehow all could hear Moses speak the words he was to utter — we must then wonder how Moses was understood by all.
From our textual reading, we know that Moses spoke of the history of the Israelites’ wandering — events that were positive and negative — and at times he spoke directly to certain groups of people.
How were all to understand his message when many had not shared in these experiences and some were “too young” to comprehend?
Rabbi Simchah Bunem of Prszysucha (1765-1827), as quoted by Rabbi Larry Kushner and Rabbi Kerry Olitzky in “Sparks Beneath The Surface,” interpreted the addition of the word “all” to understand that Moses addressed “each one according to his or her character and age, his or her understanding and level of perception, each one according to his or her measure.”
Accepting this interpretation of the text, we recognize that Moses, with one speech, offered individualized messages to many disparate groups.
This man who once said, “I have never been a man of words” (Exodus 4:10), has now, through 40 years of leading the Israelites, become not only a man of words, but a man who knows how to use words effectively.
Moses has gained the ability to do what many of us strive to do — to make sure that the words we utter are interpreted in the way we intend and that they are presented in a way that the words speak to many.
As Jews, our obligation is to pass along our tradition from one generation to the next. The manner in which we do this may affect the outcome.
If we expect that one manner of speaking or educating will reach all, then we have not done as Moses has modeled for us. We must style our speech and our methods of education to make sure we are reaching the multitude of listeners and learners.
Moses did not just offer one word or one way, but rather “Eilu d’varim” — “These are the words.”
Rabbi Roxanne J. S. Shapiro is the Rabbi-Educator at Congregation Shalom in Milwaukee.
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