By Rabbi Dovid Sapirman, Dean, Ani Maamin Foundation
Moshe Rabbeinu was forbidden to enter Eretz Yisrael, but it is not clear what his sin was. According to the Torah: "Moshe and Aharon gathered the people before the rock. He said, ‘Listen, you rebellious people. Will we bring forth water from this rock for you?’ Moshe lifted his hand and hit the rock with his staff two times. Water came forth, and the people and their animals drank. Hashem said, ‘Because you didn't believe in Me to sanctify Me before the eyes of Bnei Yisrael, you will not bring them to the land I have given to them.’”
What did Moshe do wrong? It is not clear. There are many explanations: Rashi says he should have spoken to the rock instead of hitting it. The Rambam says he lost his temper in public. The Ramban says that he should have said “Will Hashem bring forth water?” There are other explanations as well.
Regardless, we know that Moshe Rabbeinu would not have had any evil intentions. Perhaps he did indeed make one of those mistakes. Couldn’t he have protested? “Ribbono Shel Olam, is this my reward for being a devoted leader of the Jewish people for 40 years? You know, Ribbono Shel Olam, how much I put up with! How difficult they made my life, how they spoke and complained against me. Sometimes I thought they were going to stone me! I fasted forty days and forty nights to receive the Torah for them. I have been the raya mehemna, the faithful shepherd, of Your people for forty years. Everything I did was for them! And You know, Ribbono Shel Olam, that I have only one dream in life: to enter Eretz Yisrael and fulfill its mitzvos.”
Moshe certainly could have said all this. After all, he only made one mistake. And yet Hakadosh Baruch Hu said no. He committed this sin at Meriva, whatever it was, and he would not enter Eretz Yisrael. To us, this seems unfair. The rest of the generation, who had committed more and worse sins, were allowed into the land, but not Moshe—all for one minute sin which we struggle to identify! Moshe, however, did not register the slightest complaint.
On the very last day of his life, he makes an astounding declaration: “Whatever the Almighty does is perfect, for all His ways are just. He is the faithful, trustworthy G-d, with no unfairness. He is righteous and straight.”
We think that Moshe Rabbeinu was cheated, and he should be dying with complaints on his lips. Yet he himself tells the world of Hashem’s true justice in everything He does.
To this day, we use Moshe’s declaration at the most tragic time in our lives. This pasuk became known as the tzidduk hadin, and is recited by mourners when they bury a relative, declaring that they accept Hashem's judgment.
Adapted from Tranquility and Travail by Rabbi Sapirman.
