And I besought G-d at that time, saying... "Let me go over, I pray You, that I may see the good land" (Deut. 3:23-25)
The Midrash relates that Moses beseeched G-d with 515 prayers (the numerical equivalent of the word "va'etchanan" - "and I besought") to be allowed to enter the Land of Israel. Even after G-d explicitly told him, "Do not continue to speak to Me any more of this matter," Moses persisted. We learn from this that we must never give up begging and imploring G-d to allow us back into the Land of Israel, with the coming of Moshiach, for we have been promised that we are the last generation of exile and the first generation of Redemption. (The Lubavitcher Rebbe Shabbat Parshat Devarim, 5751)
Why did Moses so desire to enter the land? "The Jewish people have been commanded many mitzvot (commandments) which can only be done in the Land of Israel. Let me therefore enter the land so that they can all be performed through me," he reasoned, as related in the Talmud. Moses' motivation was not personal. Rather, had Moses merited to accompany the Jewish people into Israel, the Final Redemption would have occurred immediately, without the necessity of having to endure subsequent exiles and wait several thousand more years for Moshiach. (The Rebbe, 5746)
Take good care of your souls (Deut. 4:15)
One must not abuse or neglect the physical body, for "a small defect in the body creates a large defect in the soul." (The Mezeritcher Magid)
From there you will seek the L-rd your G-d and will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29)
It is precisely when you seek the L-rd your G-d "from there" - from the depths of your heart and with a sense of complete nullification before the Creator, that "you shall find" the sudden revelation of the greatest G-dly light. (The Baal Shem Tov)
You have been shown to know that the L-rd is G-d (Deuteronomy 4:35)
When G-d revealed Himself on Mount Sinai to the soul of every Jew of every generation, He thereby made it possible for any Jew who sincerely desires to serve Him to perceive the true essence of the world, despite the darkness and concealment of what presents itself as reality. (Sefat Emet)
Reprinted from the Vaetchanan 5762/2002 edition of L’Chaim.
