If you are someone who is very enthusiastic about learning Torah and being religious you may have a hard time understanding those who seem to be "holding back" in their devotion and excitement. Moshe Rabanu also had such difficulties yet HaShem explained the story to him.

In Parshas Vaeschanan Moshe Rabanu rebukes the people for not wanting to hear the Torah directly from G-d at Sinai. As it states in Devarim 5:24: You (referring to Moshe), should approach and hear all that the Lord our God will say and you speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do.

Rashi explains: You weakened my strength as that of a female, for I was distressed regarding you, and you weakened me, since I saw that you were not anxious to approach God out of love. Would it not have been preferable for you to learn (directly) from the mouth of the Almighty God, rather than to learn from me?

Yet we see in the next verse that HaShem disagreed with Moshe and held the people were correct for keeping their distance. As it says Devarim 5:25: And the Lord heard the sound of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, "I have heard the sound of the words of this people that they have spoken to you; they have done well in all that they have spoken.

The question is asked by Rabbi M Miller of Gateshead zl ˜b as to why Moshe was not punished for this unjustified rebuke. According to the Ramban (Shemonah Perakin Chapter 4), the dreadful degree that Moshe would not enter the land of Israel was caused by the fact that he rebuked the people with an unwarranted harshness at the incident of the bitter waters. Why is this rebuke any less harsh? HaShem himself said the people were correct so why is there no retribution?

I was recently asked to show an elderly non-relgious man a certain Beis Midrush in Jerusalem. The large room was packed with over a thousand enthusiastic students boisterously learning in the traditional yeshivish way. I was both happy and proud to show my visitor how exciting it could be to learn in such a vibrant environment. Yet to my surprise, as I brought him through the door of the Beis Midrush I saw a sense of fear and panic overcome his entire demeanor. There was a picture true terror on his face as he asked me to escort him back outside. As we walked along he told me that he was overwhelmed by what he saw and was extremely impressed by the students who were so passionately involved in their Torah learning.

Coming close to Hashem and his Torah is something that is both individual and personal. Each person has to strive for his potential yet know his level and limitations. Moshe was correct in the sense that he wanted the highest heights for his people. At the same time the people were right as they knew themselves and how much they were able to receive. Regarding the teaching of the Torah Gemara Pesachim112a states: More than the calf wishes to suck the cow wants to suckle.

Have a Good Shabbos

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