Now, the Zohar hakadosh (Mishpatim 120a) teaches that Moshe Rabeinu, who redeemed our forefathers from Mitzrayim, he will be the Mashiach, who will redeem us le’asid la’vo. This is alluded by the passuk (Koheles 1, 9): "מה שהיה הוא שיהיה""—that which was, it will be. Note that the first letters of the first three words spell משה. Thus, the passuk is saying: "מה שהיה"—what was—namely, that Moshe was the redeemer in the past during the first geulah (from Mitzrayim); so, too, "הוא שיהיה"—he will be the redeemer once again of the final geulah.
Elsewhere, the Zohar hakadosh teaches (Bereishis 25b): "לא יסור שבט מיהודה, דא משיח בן דוד, ומחוקק מבין רגליו, דא משיח בן יוסף, עד כי יבא שיל"ה דא מש"ה, חושבן דא כדא". The passuk says: “The staff shall not depart from Yehudah”—this alludes to Mashiach the son of David; “nor a lawgiver from between his feet”—alludes to Mashiach the son of Yosef; “until Shiloh arrives”—alludes to Moshe; for the numerical value of שיל"ה is the same as the numerical value of מש"ה; both equal exactly 345. The Ohr HaChaim hakadosh (Bereishis 49, 11) explains that Mashiach’s neshamah will contain elements from both David HaMelech and Moshe Rabeinu. Thus, there is no contradiction.
We can now interpret the passuk above in this light: "אל תוסף דבר אלי עוד בדבר הזה". You yourself, Moshe, cannot pray one more tefilah to enter the land and build the Beis HaMikdash. For, as we have learned, it would lead to the annihilation of Yisrael. It is incumbent on Bnei Yisrael, however, to offer that last tefilah. By praying for the future geulah, Moshe Rabeinu will then enter Eretz Yisrael as the Melech HaMashiach, and he will build the third Beis HaMikdash, which will stand for eternity.
This enlightens us with regards to the mnemonic proposed by the Geonim for always reading parshas Va’etchanan after Tishah B’Av: "צומו וצלו"—fast and pray. In their own inimitable way, they alluded to the magnificent connection between the two acts. First, we are required to “fast” on Tishah B’Av, for the churban of the Beis HaMikdash, when HKB”H poured out His wrath on its wooden beams and stones rather than on Yisrael. Thus, it turns out that we are responsible for Moshe Rabeinu not being allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael to build the Beis HaMikdash.
Therefore, to make amends, after fulfilling the command of "צומו" on Tishah B’Av, we are commanded "וצלו". We must read parshas Va’etchanan, where Moshe appeals to HKB”H with 515 tefilos to enter the land. From there, we learn that it is incumbent upon us to complete his last tefilah by praying for the future geulah. In answer to our tefilos, Moshe Rabeinu will enter the land and build the Beis HaMikdash—swiftly, in our times! Amen.
