This sheet on Deuteronomy 34 was written by Kevin Peters for 929 and can also be found here
Deuteronomy 34, the last chapter of the Torah describes Moses’ death. He is said to have died al pi hashem. The peshat or contextual meaning of that idiomatic expression is “at the command of the Lord.” Quite simply, Moses died because God commanded it. Rashi brought out a more midrashic interpretation by focusing on the literal translation of this phraseי. Moses died by the mouth of the Lord. His last breath was drawn while being gently kissed by a loving God. It was a peaceful transition from life to death. Moses died b’shalom and b’shlaymut. The idea of death coming gently with a kiss even found its way into modern Hebrew. Mitat neshikah ("death by kiss") refers to a person that died a sudden and painless death at a ripe old age.
Unfortunately, not everyone can experience death as a mitat neshikah. Some of us will live long full lives while others will die much too young. Some of us will die swiftly and with minimal pain. Others will languish, and death will come as a welcomed release from suffering. We cannot know how we will die. Death comes for everyone and we are powerless to stop it.
However, the way we live our lives until that final moment is up to us. We can spend our time being angry and resentful about the misfortunes of our lives. All too often, people make that choice. There is another option. It is one that leads to shalom and shlaymut.
Moses’ final moments were peaceful because he chose to stop fighting God’s judgement. He had to let go of his dream to lead the people into the Promised Land. Of course accepting that was not easy. Moses pleaded with God to let him cross the Jordan, but God would not do as he asked.
Ultimately, Moses made the difficult decision to accept his own powerlessness. In that acceptance Moses was able to find peace with the knowledge that he finished his life’s work and that others would continue what he started.
May we all learn that same lesson.
Kevin Peters is a third year rabbinical school student at JTS.
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