Torah Portion of Vayelech - Happy Birthday - Until 120!

Deuteronomy 31

A part of the Tora-portion of this week is:

A part of the Parshah of Vayelech (“and he went”) recounts the events of Moses' last day of earthly life. “I am one hundred and twenty years old today,” he says to the people, “and I can no longer go forth and come in.” He transfers the leadership to Joshua, and writes (or concludes writing) the Torah in a scroll which he entrusts to the Levites for safekeeping in the Ark of the Covenant.

For Noahides

It is common among Jews to wish another to live "until 120." This is because the Torah tells us that "Moses was 120 years old when he died" (Deuteronomy 34:7), and his life was deemed perfect and complete.

When we are healthy, this is sometimes easier than when we experience physical challenges.

Illness can come because we treat our bodies wrongly. Our soul comes from a higher place and it is not easy for every soul to be here. Because of the fear of being here, or the lack of the higher, a person may come to treat their body wrongly. The lack is compensated with the wrong things like food, drink, excessive physical activities etc. The illness is then a signal that we need to rethink our priorities and focus more on G-d.

As long as the physical challenge is not the result of improper handling of your body, it can be seen as a gift from God. Everything from His hands is for the better. Thus, the ailment or disease may be intended as a rectification of sins. But it can also be intended to improve your relationship with Him, to make you ask forgiveness for sins committed, to improve your way of life, etc.

It is G-d who gives the physical challenge and we may pray to Him to heal us. Yet we may not count on miracles alone. When sick, it is important to visit a physician, who will be a tool in G-d's hands to possible healing.

Every day we have to see as a gift from God. A day in which we may receive His blessings, a that in which we may learn and develop ourselves, a day to give and do good deeds.

That we may only reach the age of 120 in blessing, joy and health whereby each year we may make a new discovery about G-ds Light in our lives and we may learn more and more about His Chesed - Loving-kindness, Justice, Harmony, Compassion, Endurance, Humility, Bonding, Sovereignty and Leadership.

Brought By Angelique Sijbolts

Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners en intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.

More from Angelique Sijbolts

Sources

Chabad: Vayelech in a Nutshell

Chabad Article: May You live Until 120

Chabad Article: Illness and Life

Chabad Article: Letter of the Rebbe, explanation 120 form of Name of G-d