By Rabbi Moshe Vosoghi
Towards the end of Moshe Rabbeinu’s final address to Klal Yisrael, Moshe tells the nation to, “Remember the days of old, understand the years of every generation.” Rashi explains that the first part of the sentence refers to a general awareness of Hashem’s justice regarding those who have sinned, and the second part is a reference to two particular generations, the days of Enosh, which suffered a partial flood, and the days of Noach, where there was an absolute flood.
Reb Menachem Bentzion Zacks offers another understanding of the term, “Understand the years of every generation.” The term for years is שנות which can also be read as ‘changes.’ Thus, the sentence reads, “Remember the days of old, and understand how to apply them to the changes experienced by every generation.” The Torah is timeless, given by our Creator. There is no era, generation, or circumstance where the Torah does not apply. However, as the years progress, and Klal Yisrael is spread amongst various societies, we sometimes feel challenged by the prevailing culture and way of life. One country may feel a part of our Torah is unusually harsh, while another may feel it is surprisingly lax. We know as clear as day that the Torah endures. The swirling winds of change may challenge our absolute truth, but the light of the Torah stands strong. If we were to crumble in the face of the predominant thinking, we would have never taught the world concepts such as mercy, personal responsibility, and the special relationship one can forge with Hashem Himself.
We have in our hands an exceptional gift, a manual that elucidates with great clarity the world as the Creator envisions it, and what we can do to make that a reality. It is up to us to stand firm and not waver in our recognition of the truth of the Torah.
Shabbat Shalom and Gmar Chatima Tova!