d’var torah
Did I Make a Diff erence?
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Rabbi David Levin manages Jewish
Relationships Initiative, a 501(c)(3),
this column are the author’s own and
do not refl ect the view of the Board of
Rabbis. BUSINESS / LEGAL DIRECTORIES
Jewish Exponent
PHILADELPHIA WI
JE his timeless question is in Moses’
heart as Devarim, the fi rst
parsha of Deuteronomy, as he
recounts the trials and tribulations from
Egypt to the edge of the Promised Land.

He has led the people faithfully, but
the old generation is gone. Moses pre-
pares for his death, Joshua is appointed
the new leader and a new generation of
people formed and steeled in the cru-
cible of the Midbar prepares to move
forward, leaving Moses behind.

Moses’ recollections are slightly
diff erent than what we read as things
occurred along the journey. Despite
pushback from the people and God, he
places himself in the spotlight as the
true champion in every circumstance.

Elie Weisel suggests, “Some stories
are true that never happened.” Indeed,
memories oft en are the recalling of
experiences based on the values that
helped us understand those experiences
and shaped us.

It has been an oft en-fraught rela-
tionship, with the people wanting to
rebel and turn back, factions acting
out against Moses and Moses saving
the people from God’s wrath. Moses
recounts things through the fi lter of his
memory and the desire to be remem-
bered for his accomplishments as the
person who brought B’nei Israel into
nationhood and to the Promised Land,
following God’s direction. But now, it is
Joshua’s turn as God’s chosen successor.

We sense the tension in the transition
as Moses recounts the extraordinary
experiences thus far under his tute-
lage. Although we consider Moses most
humble, even he needs to see that his
time has meaning, his life was for a pur-
pose and the people he served appreciate
all he has done.

We are on the verge of a new chapter.

At the edge of the Promised Land, the
needs are diff erent. New and fresh lead-
ership is required to meet the new tests,
the challenges of a new generation and
the new enterprise of taking the land
and dwelling in it. But this transition is
oft en abrupt and dismissive, without the
helping seekers of meaning through
Jewish wisdom, particularly relation-
ships and end-of-life challenges. Th e
Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia
is proud to provide diverse perspectives
on Torah commentary for the Jewish
Exponent. Th e opinions expressed in
SH PH
IA T
Parshat Devarim
respect the elders have earned.

Can we elevate the process by off ering
sincere gratitude and recognizing this
as a “shehecheyanu” moment? Can we
maintain a respectful place for those
soon-to-be former leaders as curators
of wisdom and institutional memory?
Th is kind of transition is a process, not
a moment. And the lessons of the Torah
are timely. Change a name and the set-
ting, and we are talking about us.

Th e pandemic accelerated many
changes already underway in our cul-
ture and society. Legacy institutions
have struggled with membership and
age; leaders are fi nding they do not
speak a language that resonates with the
next generation to engage them success-
fully; identity is more fl uid than ever.

For many clergy leaders, the time has
come to leave the pulpit and make way
for the new group of leaders. Can we
fi nd ways to usher this change along,
honoring the past while looking to
the future? I suggest that although the
methods may diff er, the Torah’s endur-
ing values remain constant.

We will lose much if we cannot embrace
the old while turning toward the new. It is
about giving our people both roots and
wings, to liken it to parenting.

It validates who we as parents are,
the nurturers and teachers. Th e values
they learn are the values we taught. Th e
ability to fi nd meaning is grounded in
the world in which we raised them. Th is
is a moment of extraordinary challenge,
and the opportunities are practically
unlimited. We brought them along on
this remarkable journey to this partic-
ular point.

Now they, the next generation, must
move forward, leaving us behind, but
carrying us in their hearts and minds.

Th is is the underlying message of the
phrase, Zichronam Livracha, may their
memories be for a blessing.

May we live our lives to bring honor
to a tradition grounded in morals and
ethics and understand that we live in
service to something greater. And may
the next generation honor us by doing
the same. JE
2 BY RABBI DAVID LEVIN
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