Beyond Orthodox Conversion to Judaism

"It happened when Pharaoh sent out the people that G-d did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines because it was near, for G-d said 'Perhaps the people will reconsider when they see a war, and they will return to Egypty" (Exodus 13:17)

The Midrash explains that that at this point Moshe Rabbenu cries out. This is explained by the following parable: a person made a match for the daughter of the king. This person saw through the heavenly constellations that  that she would go out from her father's house but would not get to the chuppah (wedding canopy) and he began to cry. They asked him, why are you crying? He said he was crying because I made this match for the daughter of the king and I will not be able to bring her to the groom! So too Moshe Rabbenu screams out and says that he will bring the Jewish people out of Egypt but he won't be able to go with them and enter the land of Israel and that is why it says, 'It happened when Pharaoh sent out the people..'

Rav Moshe Sternbuch Sh'lita in Chochmah V'Da'as asks why does Moshe Rabbenu only scream out now, it is already known in Exodus 6:1 that G-d tells him you will see what I do to Pharaoh. Rashi there explains that Moshe Rabbenu had questions about what G-d was doing whereby G-d tells him that now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh but will not merit to see the destruction of the seven nations in the land of Israel. In fact, Moshe should have screamed out then, why does he wait until now to do so?

Rav Stertnbuch explains that the reason that Moshe is not allowed to enter the land of Israel is because if he were there with the Jewish people, G-d would demand them to live their lives at a very high spiritual level.  If Moshe would enter the land with the Jewish people and they would not keep the commandments as G-d would like, the Jewish people would be in great danger.

This is the reason that the Jewish people wander in the desert for so long and Moshe does not bring them into the Promised land.  Moshe thought that with all the miracles that occurred in Egypt that the Jewish people would attain that level to be able to enter the land of Israel with him leading them.

When Moshe saw that G-d was leading them in a roundabout way, he thought that because they would have to go to war, they would want to turn back and go back to Egypt.  Through this he understood that he would not lead the Jewish people there and he cried out at this point.

This teaches us a tremendous lesson. Although we have merited to have the land of Israel in our hands, nonetheless the Jews living there are expected to live their lives to a higher level since they are living in the palace of the king. If we don't live up to those standards then there can be terrible repercussions in the land and outside as well.

May we merit to always try and live our lives to the fullest full of Torah, mitzvos and good deeds.

Shabbat Shalom