By Rabbi Moshe Pogrow
It was with deep intention and thought that our Sages designated the last words of the neviim as the haftarah that is to be read on the “great” Shabbos, Shabbos Hagadol, the Shabbos that precedes the Yom Tov of our national birthday.
This haftarah, the final words of Malachi, concludes with a reminder of, and reference to, the same mission that Hashem first announced to Moshe and declared to be the purpose of the redemption. This mission is to be li l’am, “to be My people, a people for Me.”
The revelation of the Torah is simply the will of G-d put into words. Through its fulfillment, our individual and national lives become elevated, equipped to be the people of Hashem. The annual anniversary of our rise from spiritual death should imbue us with these eternal truths, and inspire us to make them reality in our lives.
For what is the final admonition, the last words of Malachi before nevuah falls silent for centuries?
“Remember the Torah of My servant Moshe that I commanded him at Chorev for all Yisrael, as chukim and mishpatim!”
Zichru, remember! These parting words of Malachi remind us that surprisingly, it is not the Aseres Hadibros that we are cautioned to take to heart, not the Ten Commandments which we heard directly from Hashem at Har Sinai.
Rather, it is the chukim and mishpatim that we must keep in mind, the laws and social regulations for all Yisrael. The Torah, with all of its contents, is the fountain of our lives, and its fulfillment is how we will be preserved for eternity.
Here we see the perfect unity of the words of G-d, from the first letter to the last, and the perfect uniformity of our history, directed by Hashem from its earliest beginnings to a final goal in the distant future.
Based on the commentary of Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch zt”l on Chumash, with permission from the publisher.
