In this week’s parsha, Parshat Shoftim, Moshe speaks to the Jewish people. He informs them that they will have a prophet amongst them and that he will be like him. What does Moshe mean when he compares this prophet to himself? Does he mean that the prophet among them will be a great leader? Is he referring to the fact that this prophet will be close to G-d?
We see that what Moshe really means is that just like he started out as an average Jew, this prophet will do the same. Moshe is relaying to the Jewish people that he does not see himself as superior. He is relaying the message about this prophet to the Jewish people that it is possible to “work your way up,” in a sense. He is explaining that since we are all born as regular Jews, our potential has no limit.
We all are born with an enormous opportunity to make something of ourselves. Moshe shows us here that if we take full advantage of that, we can become as great as we want to be.
Shabbat Shalom.
By: Shmuel Kahn (12th grade)