What would you ask for?
According to tradition, as his time drew near, Moses made one final, powerful request of God. It wasn't for more life, or for comfort, or even for himself at all. Instead, as Louis Ginzberg recounts in Legends of the Jews, Moses prayed: "Grant my wish, O Lord. Command the heavens to open and be split asunder, so that light shines in the darkness, so that the eyes of the children of Israel may be opened and they shall see there is none beside You, O Lord, in the heavens and the earth."
Think about that for a moment. After leading the Israelites through the desert for forty years, after witnessing their constant doubts and wavering faith, Moses' last act was to try, one final time, to solidify their belief in God.
And what happened? The story goes that God granted his request. Deuteronomy Rabbah 11 and Petirat Moshe, as documented in IFA 15075, tell us that no sooner had Moses spoken than the seven heavens were opened. All the depths were cleft asunder, and a great light shone in the darkness.
Can you imagine witnessing that?
The eyes of the children of Israel were opened, and they saw that there was nothing in heaven or on earth to compare with the splendor of God. Overwhelmed, they cried out to each other, "Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad – Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is One!" (Deut. 6:4).
It's a powerful image, isn't it? This moment of collective revelation. It reminds us that Moses' relationship with God was deeply personal, almost mystical. It echoes his very first encounter with the Divine, a personal mystical experience, but this time, it’s a shared experience, a collective awakening.
Throughout their long wandering, the Israelites often struggled with their faith, losing sight of the divine presence that guided them. Moses, in his final act, sought to rekindle that flame, to give them a glimpse of the ultimate truth. He wasn’t focused on his own fate, but on the spiritual well-being of his people.
What does this story tell us? Perhaps it's about the power of leadership, about putting the needs of others before your own. Or maybe it's a reminder that even in the face of death, it's never too late to inspire faith and wonder. As we reflect on Moses' last request, we can ask ourselves, what legacy do we hope to leave behind? What light do we hope to shine in the darkness?