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Moses’ impatience also has a number of historical precedents. survival; ultimately, though, “rain” will only fall if the Jewish people
According to Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, impatience caused three of first draw down upon themselves the spiritual blessings of the Torah
the greatest sins in history. Had Adam and Eve not been impatient by fulfilling the mitzvot. This will make them worthy of receiving the
and waited for a few hours till Shabbat, they would have been able to physical blessings of rain, which in turn will allow them the freedom
eat from the Tree of Knowledge as well as from the Tree of Life. Had to further devote themselves to their spiritual efforts.
the Jewish people exhibited even a modicum of patience when Moses The prophet Zechariah teaches that in the future a river will flow
failed to return on the expected date from Mount Sinai, they would out of the rebuilt Temple and sweeten all the waters in the world
not have committed the heinous sin of making a Golden Calf. King (Zechariah 14:8). At that time physicality will become a perfect
David tragically slept with Bathsheba, whom he had foreseen was his vessel for spirituality. Life-giving waters of material well-being and
spiritual mate, before their relationship was morally unobjectionable. spiritual ascent will flow to the entire world from the Holy Land
The grave spiritual ramifications of Moses’ impatience were similar which will be transformed into an Orchard of Delights as the Rambam
in magnitude to those stemming from these three sins, as the mixed writes: “In the Messianic era there will be neither war nor famine.
multitude was primarily responsible for making the Golden Calf, a Jealousy and competition will cease to exist, for all good things will
sin whose effects still reverberate through the ages. be most plentiful and all sorts of delicacies will be as plentiful as

Since Moses’ intentions were righteous his enormous spiritual dust” (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Melachim 12:5).
achievements were not nullified, but he still had to rectify this aspect
of impatience. Indeed, it was this same lack of patience with the
people that allowed Moses to momentarily lose his temper, causing
him to rebuke the people and consequently hit the rock. Perhaps the
very high price he paid for his angry reproach caused him to begin
the book of Deuteronomy with a subtle and controlled rebuke (see
“How Could It Have Come to Pass” in Devarim).

Just as Moses embodies righteousness and the need for spiritual
rectification so too does Elijah the prophet – who impetuously
complained to God that the Jews had abandoned their covenant with 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 18 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Magenta
Him. The Zohar (2:169a) relates that God told Elijah that because #24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 18 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Yellow 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 18 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Black 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 18 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:05 | SR:-- | Cyan
of this disparaging statement he would have to come to every future
circumcision to attest to the fact that the Jewish people did not break
their covenant with God. On the one hand his appearance at every
circumcision is a necessary tikkun (rectification) for Elijah, while
on the other hand, his lifelong spiritual achievements still allowed
him to ascend to heaven in a fiery chariot and be transformed into
a spiritual being transcending time and space. Elijah appears in all
sorts of guises in order to assist people and especially to teach them
heavenly secrets. Like Elijah, Moses’ appearances in every generation

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