B"H
Thursday, 7 Adar 2, 5776 / March 17, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR
Today is the 7th day in the month of Adar. It is an important day in the Hebrew calendar, as on this day, Moshe, our great leader and redeemer from Egypt, was born and on this day, 120 years later, he passed away.
Moshe was born in Egypt in the year, 2368, and passed away in the year 2488. He was buried in the Sinai desert, where about 600,000 Jews were also buried. The Torah tells us that no human was present when he passed away. G-d Himself attended to his burial and no one knows the exact spot where he was buried.
Moshe was from the Tribe of Levi. His wife was Tziporah. They had two sons: Gershom and Eliezer.
The Torah tells us that, at the time of his death, his strength had not weakened and his eyesight had not dimmed even though he was 120 years old.
Moshe led the Jewish people out of Egypt, split the sea for them, brought them to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, and led the people through their forty year journey in the wilderness of Sinai.
No other Jewish leader attained the greatness of Moshe; as the Torah says, "Never again has there arisen in Israel a prophet like Moshe, whom the L-rd made known face to face."
At the same time, the Torah tells us, "Moshe was the most humble person from all the people upon the face of the earth!"
Moshe's greatness is also expressed in his humility. As the Torah says, "Moshe was the most humble person upon the face of the earth" (Num. 12:3). Indeed, true greatness
Moshe is called, “The Father of all the prophets.” Because no other prophet attained Moshe's level.
One of the Thirteen Principles of Faith, according to Maimonides is: “I firmly believe that the prophecy of Moshe our teacher, may he rest in peace, was true, that He was the greatest of the prophets, both of those who were before him and of those that followed him.”
One of the attributes that made Moshe so special was his love for every Jew. When the children of Israel sinned by worshipping the Golden Calf and G-d wanted to destroy them, Moshe said, "If You don't forgive the people of Israel, then erase me from Your Book (Torah) that you wrote..."
Moshe died on a Shabbat. His passing is described as his soul was taken through a G-dly kiss.
The Torah is at times called, "Torat Moshe" - the “Torah of Moshe,” as it was Moshe who wrote the Torah by Divine inspiration. May his memory be a blessing to all Israel. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY