It’s a strange feeling to know that this is the final Shabbat of 5784. Next week, we will be ushering in the new year on Rosh Hashana. A new year generally brings a feeling of renewal, of a fresh start, the exhilaration of a clean slate. But this year is different. How can we renew ourselves with 101 of our brothers and sisters still in captivity? How do we feel excitement when the residents of the North have been displaced for nearly a year? How do we fight our internal battles when there are so many on the front lines fighting our external enemies?

As we read the closing messages of Moshe’s parting speech, he leaves us with two final Mitzvot. One is the Mitzvah of Hakhel – once in seven years, the entire nation gathers in Jerusalem to hear the words of the Torah and reaffirm their commitment to the covenant. This is a national event – men, women, the elderly, the young all gather for this experience. An experience of unity and inspiration. There is a place for every Jew in Judaism; there’s inspiration for all who seek it.

The other mitzvah is to write a Sefer Torah. How beautiful that the final mitzvah of the Torah is the key to ensuring that the Torah lives on. Whereas Hakhel is a national experience, the act of writing a Sefer Torah is an individual one. When we write, we process and internalise and thereby engrave the words not just on the scroll in front of us, but in the hearts within us. The first letter of the entire Torah is a ‘bet’ for the word Bereishit. The final letter of the entire Torah is a ‘lamed’, the final letter of the word ‘Yisrael’. The lamed and bet make the word ‘lev’ – heart. The Torah should be in our hearts, a living breathing way to live our lives. It was never meant to be just words; it is supposed to live within us. 
As his beloved people look towards entering the promised land without him, Moshe leaves them with a final message of the secret to achieving peace and prosperity. A message that can perhaps help us to close a year of tears and yet begin the new one with hope. The first is that of unity. Unity among the people is integral in attaining our goal of devotion to Hashem. When people respect, admire and love each other, they focus on each other’s positive traits. When we look to see how we can help those around us, the ensuing harmony elevates us all. And the second message is writing the Torah on our hearts, sharing it with whoever we are with, committing to living Torah lives wherever we are, singing the song of Torah wherever we go. 

MTC 5785 has already demonstrated how to give selflessly to the children of Bet Elazraki, loving them unconditionally from day one. They have also dedicated themselves to their Shiurim, enthusiastically taking notes on their pages but already inscribing the words on their hearts.

BezH, as a nation we can also internalise these messages and may they give us the strength to enter the new year stronger, more unified and singing the song of Torah every day. 

ביחד ננצח!