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The Most Famous Yahrzeit

19/02/2021 08:03:25 AM

Feb19

Today on the Jewish calendar is the seventh of Adar. According to rabbinic interpretation, based on a close reading of the Torah text, today marks the Yahrzeit of Moshe Rabeinu, Moses, our teacher/rabbi.

This date offers us an opportunity to delve deeper into the qualities which made Moses fit for leadership of the Children of Israel. Legends surrounding a young shepherd Moses consider him to be caring and compassionate to the most vulnerable. Moses would become known as the greatest Prophet who ever lived. His leadership titles include lawgiver, judge, teacher, arbiter and more. Moses had to confront a "stubborn and stiff-necked people." He dealt with one rebellion after another in the book of B'midbar, including those who complained about food, the episode of the spies, the mutiny of Korach and his cohorts, and more. Moses died at the age of 120. To this day, as a statement of good will, we pray that people live to the age of Moses.

To honor the memory of Moses in the most altruistic way, the seventh of Adar has become a time to honor the sacred work of the Hevra Kadisha. These men and women voluntarily perform the sacred task of purifying and preparing a body for traditional Jewish burial. With the utmost respect and modesty, women look after deceased females, and men look after deceased males. The Mitzvot they do constitute the highest forms of lovingkindness, "Hesed Shel Emet."

The framework of our entire tradition harkens back to Moses.  The very first statement found in Pirkei Avot teaches us, "Moses received Torah at Sinai and transmitted it . . ." It is our task to ensure that each and every generation receives and transmits Torah, as Moses did some 3500 years ago. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Fri, 29 March 2024 19 Adar II 5784