1. Moshe’s Passing and the Transition to Yehoshua
In today’s learning, we are up to Chamishi, which is Shishi in Parshas Vayelech. The parsha describes a pivotal moment: Hashem tells Moshe that his time has come to pass on, and He is handing over leadership to Yehoshua. This moment is marked by strong language in the Torah, emphasizing the gravity of the transition and what will follow for Bnei Yisroel.
Hashem tells Moshe that after his passing, the nation will rise and stray after foreign gods. This is found in verse Tezayin, where the Torah says, “Behold, you will lie with your fathers, and this nation will get up and follow the strange gods of the land.” The simple reading suggests a warning about future failings after Moshe’s death.
2. A Source for Techiyas HaMeisim in the Torah
The Gemara points out that this verse is not only a sad one but also serves as a source for techiyas hameisim—the resurrection of the dead. The way Chazal read it, there is a hint: “You will be lying down” (referring to Moshe’s passing), “and this nation will get up”—implying that even those who have passed away will ultimately rise again. This is counted among the places where techiyas hameisim is alluded to explicitly in the Torah.
3. The Gemara’s Emotional Response to Pesukim
The Gemara in Chagigah notes that certain verses moved the sages deeply, even bringing them to tears. Among these was our verse about Hashem hiding His face from Bnei Yisroel when they stray. The rabbis felt these words acutely because they speak of Hashem’s concealment and the suffering that results from it.
The Gemara lists several such verses that struck a chord with Chazal, highlighting their sensitivity to moments when Hashem’s presence seems hidden from His people.
4. Hester Panim: Concealment but Not Abandonment
The Gemara explains Hashem’s words: “I will hide My face on that day.” This means that when Bnei Yisroel do not follow Hashem, He conceals Himself so that when troubles come, people realize it stems from their distance from Him. Yet, even during this hester panim—concealment of Hashem’s face—there remains a connection.
The Torah uses the term “ponim”—face—rather than saying Hashem hides Himself completely. As we say in birchas kohanim, “yoyer Hashem ponov eilecha,” may Hashem shine His face upon you. Even when prophecy ceases and open miracles are absent, there remains communication through visions or dreams.
Rabi Yosef adds that although Hashem hides His face, His hand remains over us—yodoy netuyah aleinu. As it says in Yeshayahu: “Yodoy kis yisicha,” His hand shelters us. We may be like one sheep among seventy wolves, but Hashem continues to protect us throughout exile.
5. Rabi Yehoshua ben Chananiah and the Caesar
The Gemara recounts an encounter between Rabi Yehoshua ben Chananiah and the Caesar. A heretic present turned his face away from Rabi Yehoshua to demonstrate that God had turned away from Bnei Yisroel. In response, Rabi Yehoshua showed him his hand above his head, symbolizing that even if Hashem’s face is hidden, His protective hand remains over us.
The Caesar asked both men what their gestures meant. The heretic admitted he was showing that God had turned away from Israel, while Rabi Yehoshua explained he was showing that Hashem still protects us with His hand above us. When it became clear that the heretic did not understand proper decorum before royalty or even his own gestures’ implications, he was punished by being executed for his disrespect before the king.
6. Divine Balance Between Chachamim and Heretics
The Gemara continues: After Rabi Yehoshua ben Chananiah passed away, people worried who would defend Bnei Yisroel against challenging questions from heretics and non-Jews. Rabi Yehoshua reassured them by quoting two verses—one from Yirmiyahu and one from Bereishis—to show that Hashem maintains a balance: If there are fewer great sages among Bnei Yisroel to answer challenges, there will also be fewer formidable heretics raising difficult questions.
This divine balance ensures ongoing protection for Bnei Yisroel throughout exile: Even if our leaders seem diminished at times, so too are our adversaries’ abilities lessened by Hashem’s providence.
7. Hope for Geulah and Revealed Divine Presence
Despite all hardships endured throughout history and exile (golus), we see how Hashem has protected us until now. As we approach Rosh Hashanah of Tov Shin Ayin Hey (5775), we pray for an end to hester panim—that all concealments be removed and we merit seeing Hashem’s revealed presence once again.
May we soon be reunited with all tzaddikim and our Rebbe in Eretz Yisroel, in Yerushalayim with the Beis Hamikdosh rebuilt speedily in our days through Moshiach Tzidkeinu.