5784/2023
Yehoshua Perek 1 is the perfect choice as the Haftara for
V’Zot HaBracha and Simchat Torah for numerous reasons.
Sefer Devarim’s Success
Parashat V’Zot HaBracha marks the conclusion of Sefer
Devarim. As such, Yehoshua Perek 1 showcases Sefer
Devarim’s success. As his life draws to a close, Moshe
Rabbeinu worries about how the nation will deal with his loss and the transfer of power to his successor Yehoshua.
Moshe Rabbeinu was the only leader we ever knew, and he led
us in an unparalleled miraculous manner for no less than forty
years. Whenever he encountered a problem he could not solve
(such as Pesach Sheini and the Bnot Tzlofchad), he leveraged
his twenty-four/seven access to Hashem to pose the problem
to Him to resolve.
Could Am Yisrael transition to a dramatically less
powerful leader? Moshe Rabbeinu invests countless energy in
Sefer Devarim in helping Bnei Yisrael transition to Moshe
Rabbeinu leaving them and Yehoshua taking over. Yehoshua
Perek 1 shows Yehoshua seamlessly taking control without
incident and calmly but firmly preparing for our colossal
crossing of the Yarden into Eretz Yisrael. As stated in V’Zot
HaBracha (Devarim 34:9), we followed Yehoshua’s every word.
Sefer Devarim is crowned with success!
Continuity
Rav Moshe Soloveitchik (cited on the concluding page of
Reshimot Shiurim to Masechet Sukkah) insists that the primary
aspect of Simchat Torah is not the completion of the Torah but
the beginning of reading the Sefer Torah anew. On this basis,
the Rishonim instituted (which Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews
follow) the reading of Breishit Perek 1 on Simchat Torah.
Yehoshua Perek 1 is an exquisite expression of Torah
continuity. Despite the death of such a towering personality
and Navi such as Moshe Rabbeinu, Torah life unremittingly
continues with Yehoshua at the helm. Hashem emphasizes to
Yehoshua that the Torah should not leave his mouth even for a
second, and he should incessantly study it. Despite entering a
new land, the Torah continues under dramatically differing
circumstances (e.g., Mahn no longer descends from heaven).
The Haftara’s penultimate Pasuk describes Reuven, Gad, and
half of Menashe’s deep commitment to honor Yehoshua’s word
as if it was Moshe Rabbeinu’s.
All Torah ideals continue unabated despite the
profound changes which Am Yisrael underwent. Simchat Torah
shares the same goal. Despite the changing generations, times,
and locations, the Torah ideals remain constant. No wonder the
emphasis on children on Simchat Torah. Our joy lies in the
successful transmission of the Torah from one generation to
the other, just as it did from Moshe Rabbeinu to Yehoshua.
A Different Style
Although Yehoshua is unflinchingly committed to following
Moshe Rabbeinu’s well-trodden path, he manages to craft a
style of his own. In his first major move, Yehoshua orders our
nation to prepare to cross the Yarden in three days.
Interestingly, Yehoshua does not assemble the entire nation to
communicate this message. Instead, he quietly orders the
nation’s Shoterim (policemen or enforcers) to spread the word.
Yehoshua’s strategy is utterly brilliant. Had he
assembled the entire nation as Moshe Rabbeinu did in Parashat
Nitzavim, he would have exposed himself to the risk of even a
small band of rebels leading an insurrection (as happened in
Parashat Shelach and Parashat Korach). Instead, a small group
of leaders, the Shoterim, quietly but firmly established
Yehoshua’s leadership and direction. The plan went off without
a hitch. We subscribed to Yehoshua’s path without a hint of
disobedience.
In Yehoshua’s second major step, he reaches out to
Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe. This group is potentially our
nation’s weakest link. The temptation for these tribes to flout
Yehoshua’s orders is great. They could have argued that their
agreement with Moshe Rabbeinu to serve as the front-line
soldiers to receive their land portion (Nachala) east of the
Jordan is no longer binding now that Moshe Rabbeinu has
expired. Had such insubordination occurred, it would have
spread panic to the rest of our people, now that the rest of us
would have to fight on the front lines.
Yehoshua tackles this potential disaster head-on.
Yehoshua proactively and directly faces Reuven, Gad, and half
of Menashe. He firmly informs them that they will not receive
their Nachala unless and until they thoroughly complete their
front-line mission.
After placing them on notice, these tribes eagerly
prove their loyalty. Not only do they not disobey, but they also
pledge more than full allegiance to Yehoshua. They even
threaten to kill anyone who disobeys Yehoshua. Yehoshua
emerges at the end of the Haftara, in firm control of the nation,
poising us for a successful transition to Eretz Yisrael.
Yehoshua’s leadership strategies differed greatly from
that of Moshe Rabbeinu. Never do we find Moshe Rabbeinu
employing a similar approach. Moshe Rabbeinu in Sefer
Devarim pays scant attention to the Shoterim, Reuven, Gad, and
half of Menashe. Despite being in the shadow of our greatest
Navi, Yehoshua confidently forges his path, and our nation fully
buys into it.
We find similar transitions in later generations. Rav
Hershel Schachter and Rav Mordechai Willig confidently and
competently filled the shoes of Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik at
Yeshiva University. Rav David Feinstein forged his path despite
being in the shadow of the greatest Posek of the second half of
the twentieth century (his father, Rav Moshe Feinstein). Hacham David Yosef and Hacham Yitzchak Yosef march ahead,
continuing to develop their father's legacy, Rav Ovadia Yosef.
Rabbeinu Tam, the Rashbam, the Rivam, and the Ri
magnificently continued the work of their incomparable
grandfather and great-grandfather, Rashi. Elisha, as we
describe at length in our work on Sefer Melachim, “From David
to Destruction,” continues the mission of the one-of-a-kind
Eliyahu HaNavi. In each of these examples, the succeeding
generation, although lesser in stature than their predecessors,
manage to develop a style that brings them and their
communities considerable success.
The continuity and eternity of the Torah are
guaranteed by the succession of leaders finding their style and
path even after losing a seemingly irreplaceable Torah leader.
Yehoshua sets the mold for Torah’s eternity. Not even Moshe
Rabbeinu is irreplaceable. Nonetheless, Torah life continues to
survive and even thrive no matter how steep the loss.
Moreover, each generation finds its leaders and style and
continues our unabated march to the complete Torah tune.
Conclusion
Yeshivat Har Etzion’s founding Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yehuda
Amital, in 2009, delivered a farewell address to the Yeshiva at
the age of eighty-five. He helped transition the Yeshiva from his
forty-one years of leadership to the next generation of Rashei
Yeshiva - Rav Baruch Gigi, Rav Moshe Lichtenstein, and Rav
Yaakov Meidan.
Rav Amital explicitly took a page from Moshe
Rabbeinu and remained as Rosh Yeshiva for a few months
when Rav Moshe Lichtenstein began his tenure. He stated his
desire to follow the example set by Moshe Rabbeinu, wherein
he, jointly with Yehoshua, served as the nation’s head during
the very end of his life. Following Sotah 13b, Rashi (Devarim
32:44) refers to this time as the “Shabbat Shel D’yozgi,” the
Shabbat of two leaders.
Rav Amital (Kol Yehuda page 408) stunningly
concluded his address by stating the following:
We asked Rav Medan if the Yeshiva would remain the
same, and he responded no. There will certainly be
changes – the Talmidim change, the Rabbanim change,
and, therefore, the Yeshiva changes. However, as we
said regarding Moshe and Yehoshua, the Yeshiva
continues on the same path with the changes.
The same applies not only to the seamless and
successful transition and continuity at Yeshivat Har Etzion but
to the successful transmission of Torah from generation to
generation from Moshe and Yehoshua until the arrival of
Mashiach Tzidkeinu. While there are always changes, we
continue to follow the same path.