When a chosson performs a kiddushin on his bride, he tells her, “Harei at mekudeshes li k’daas b’tabaas zu Moshe v’Yisroel.” (You are betrothed to me with this ring according to the rules of Moshe and Yisroel.”
It is said that a Rov once asked why we say “according to the rules of Moshe and Yisroel”, rather than simply saying “according to the rules of the Torah.” He answered that Moshe Rabenu wandered with Klal Yisroel through the desert for 40 years. During this time, there were many causes of strife and discord, such as the story of the “mei meriva”, the incident with the “slav”, the dispute with Korach and his assemblage, and the stories of the meraglim and the eigel hazahav. Despite all this, Moshe never “divorced” the nation completely. He always...
