בס”ד
Parashat Devarim
In this week’s reading we start learning about the last words of Moshe to the Jewish people before entering the land of Israel. Within this words we find countless lessons on life.
This week’s third Torah reading is called Devarim, which means “words.”
It focuses on the words spoken by Moshe Rabbeinu, the leader of the Jewish people who took them out of Egypt and brought them to the threshold of the Land of Israel. These are his final words to the nation, spoken 37 days before his passing, as he prepared them to enter the Land.
Now, the Torah is not just a book of stories. The word Torah itself comes from the same root as morah (teacher), meaning “teachings.” It’s a book of life, guiding us on how to live in the best way possible — to get closer to G-d, to grow into our truest selves, and to reveal G-d’s presence in the world.
Our sages teach that Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest sages in Jewish history (he lived around 120 CE), would interpret not only every word and every letter of the Torah, but even the small crowns that appear on the letters in a Torah scroll. From each detail, he would derive mountains upon mountains of teachings, laws, and wisdom.
Let’s take one verse from this parsha and explore at least one practical life lesson we can extract from it — something that applies to every person, in every place, at every time.
After receiving the Torah, the Jewish people remained at Mount Sinai. They had experienced the revelation, received the Torah, and built the Mishkan — the Tabernacle — for offerings and as a place where G-d’s presence would dwell. It was a deeply spiritual and meaningful time.
Then, Moshe Rabbeinu, speaking on G-d’s command, tells the people:
“It’s been long enough that you’ve stayed at this mountain.”
Even after all they had achieved — receiving the Torah, building the Mishkan, living at the mountain — they were told to move on. To go forward, to enter the Land of Israel.
At first glance, it seems like a simple narrative: they stayed, and now they were told to move. But we know the Torah contains deeper teachings.
So what is one personal lesson we can take from this?
A person must realize that no matter how much they’ve accomplished — in their life, in their soul, in their spiritual growth — it is not enough. One must keep moving forward.
One of the core ideas in Judaism is that G-d is infinite. And since He is infinite, His wisdom is infinite. That means our potential to grow closer to Him is also infinite.
So we must constantly grow — in understanding, in feeling, in action. There is no limit to spiritual growth. Even after achieving something great — like the Jewish people at Sinai — we are called upon to keep going. To leave the comfort zone and strive for more.
This is what G-d was telling the people: “You’ve been here long enough. Move forward.”
And He’s telling each of us the same — never settle. Keep growing. Keep striving. Reveal G-d’s presence in the world.
Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
The above is a representation of the spoken text converted to written text.
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