…(15 min Q&A video) Highlights from Rabbi Sacks’ “In Conversation with…” Prof. Ron Heifetz on Jewish Leadership (5 highlight videos) Leadership (A Covenant & Conversation video for the parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech) Message for Hillel Global Leaders Forum 2012 (17 min) Pacing Change (A Covenant & Conversation video for the parshat Pinchas) Rabbi Sacks on the 25th yahrtzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe…
At the end of his life, having given the Israelites 612 commands (mitzvot), Moses is instructed to give them the last; command number 613: Now therefore write down for yourselves this song, and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be my witness within the people of Israel. Deut. 31:19 According…
In the last days of his life Moses renews the covenant between God and Israel. The entire book of Devarim has been an account of the covenant – how it came about, what its terms and conditions are, why it is the core of Israel’s identity as an am kadosh, a holy people, and so on. Now comes the moment of…
At the end of his life, having given the Israelites 612 commands at God’s behest, Moses gave them the final mitzvah: “Now therefore write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be My witness against the people of Israel.” Deut. 31:19 According to the plain…
The great transition is about to take place. Moses’ career as a leader is coming to an end. Joshua was leadership is about to begin. Moses blesses his successor. Then God does. Listen carefully to what they say, and to the subtle difference between. This is what Moses says: “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into…
At the end of his life, Moses gave the people the penultimate command – the 612th of the 613 that comprise the Torah. It was a command of far-reaching significance. The Israelites were about to cross the Jordan, and enter and take possession of the promised land. There they would begin life as a self-governing nation under the sovereignty of…
…good we do constitutes our toldot, our posterity. But by honouring the memory of our parents and bringing up children to continue the Jewish story we achieve the one form of immortality that lies this side of the grave, in this world that God pronounced good. Now consider the two last commands in the Torah, set out in parshat Vayelech, the ones…
What do you do when you have achieved it all, when you have risen to whatever career heights fate, or providence, has in store for you? What do you do as age lengthens its shadow, the sun sinks, and the body is no longer as resilient or the mind as sharp as it once was? That has become a major…
…The world is waiting for you. VAYELECH: Whatever your achievements, there is always a second mountain to climb, and it may turn out to be your greatest legacy to the future. HA’AZINU: If you want to change lives, speak to people’s feelings, not just to their minds. VEZOT HABRACHA: We are mortal; therefore make every day count. We are fallible;…
…will never be able to move. And that is what Judaism is about. Judaism is not about standing still. It’s about moving. Jewish history begins when God says to Abraham, Lech Lecha – move. Move! Leave your home, begin a journey. And it culminates in the sedra we read this morning, Vayelech. Moshe Rabbeinu 120 years old and still move….