Torah records ideas that represent hope for humankind. The Book of Numbers ends with an obligation for justice and a respect for boundaries. Deuteronomy, or D’varim in Hebrew, is the last of the five books of Torah. It represents a repetition and a final, multilayered reiteration by Moses. It begins, “These are the ‘d’varim” — the words, things, Moses said to all of Israel at the uncrossed Jordan River. 

It is an experienced Moses speaking, reminding the Israelites about the challenges their parents faced once they came up from Egypt. Those early wanderers had no real destination initially. The purpose of their Exodus was to learn how to serve a higher purpose, how to adjust to a new reality. 

Psychologists tell us that personal memories are shaped, not just stored, and that learning can be defined as a change in understanding, knowledge or abilities arising from experience. In this week’s portion, Moses is sharing a unique perspective distilled from a lifetime of experience, suffering, success and failures. He is no longer speaking to that earlier generation. He is   addressing their children, the Now Generation of Israelites. They have never been slaves. Their recent experience has given them some military success. They have acquired some confidence and seem eager to accomplish what their parents could not.

Perspective is a good thing. Looking back through the experience of a lifetime presents not only an opportunity to develop insight about a specific event, but also assess the factors that contributed to the way things turned out. 

Some rabbinic commentaries say the early Israelites were too influenced by their years in servitude to Egypt to adapt to a freedom march. When they looked back, they expressed a desire for what they lost and could perceive only the uncertainty of their future through a prism of fear.

Moses begins this week’s address with a geography lesson highlighting the many occasions when the Children of Israel were afraid to move forward. In short, they got stuck circling the mountain instead of learning to scale it. 

Twice in this week’s portion, Moses reminds the assembly to learn how and when to “turn themselves around.” This is an important message and an even more important life skill for people who aspire to be part of an improbable dream of healing the brokenness in creation.  

This idea of turning ourselves around is something we, like the early Israelites, often need assistance with. As individuals, we can seek many flavors of mentors, counselors, spiritual directors, clergy and confidants to help reorient ourselves. As complex societies, it is harder to know how to accomplish that significant pivot toward monumental possibilities for justice and righteousness. 

This week, Moses’ reminder articulates the hope I feel for the turning happening in our time. After decades of circling the Civil Rights momentum of the 1960s, a symbol inspiring hatred in some people was removed as a compassionate act of healing. Its absence will shape new memories. After decades of struggle for marriage equality, our highest court ruled on equal dignity in the eyes of the 

law by expanding the definition of marriage. After countless debates and years of circling the status quo, the sustainable-wage efforts of many are making a better life possible for millions of hourly workers. And, after fierce opposition and years of circling a mountain of rhetoric, the Affordable Care Act made finding suitable health care a freedom of choice. 

This week’s portion is always the Sabbath before Tisha B’Av, the ninth of Av. This is a day assigned for the catastrophes that have overtaken the Jews. It is called Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. This week, it tells us that when we pass through a time of devastation, we can gather strength from the image of Moses reminding the future that we can circle and stay on the same plane or we can rise in response to the circumstances that assail us. 

Torah begins with a promise: “In the beginning, a Creative God constructed a world of possibilities.” Moses invites us to find the skill to bring them to fruition when we cross into uncharted territory.  

Rabbi Dale Schreiber is a board certified chaplain, directs Renewal in Action, and is Jewish care coordinator for Pathways Community Hospice and Palliative Care.