A question can be asked, why is it so important for a teacher to honor his student as himself? In other words, what insight is Mosha teaching us about the "teacher-student relationship" that would warrent a teacher to honor his students? Remember, Mosha being the quintessential teacher........!!!!

Perhaps the answer is as follows:

When a student learns from a teacher, a student primarily absorbs the teachers spirit into him or herself. Even if the student were to write volumes and volumes of Torah knowledge, a carefull study of these volumes would reveal the teachers definite influence on the student. The student in essence becomes the teachers voice, even after the teacher has departed from this world. The spirit and voice of the teacher lives on, namely through his students.

Mosha understood this, and thus bestowed honor on Joshua in graditude for such a kindness. Perhaps this is the meaning behind the first Mishnah in Pirkei Avot when it states, "Mosha received the Torah from Sinai, and handed it to Joshua, and Joshua to the Elders, ect." The legacy of Mosha is everlasting, even to our generation and beyond, through the transmission of Torah learning from one generation to the next. If we were to listen carefully to our own Torah learning, perhapes we would be able to perceive the voice and spirit of Mosha.........

Its interesting to note that to this very day we refer to Mosha as "our teacher"(RABBENU), since his spirit and voice is still alive and present...........This is a very powerfull revelation that can perhapes motivate us to even greater heights in our torah learning.........

The lesson of the Torah is two fold, namely

(1)graditude is a fundamental principal of the Torah,and

(2)our Torah learning surely resonates with the spirit and voice of Mosha Rabbenu......Have a good Shabbos.........

If somebody out there has any comments about this parsha sheet, please contact me at kjef1@erols.com