In this week’s Torah portion Eikev, Hebrew for “Because of,” Moses continues to speak to the People of Israel as he prepares for them to enter the Land of Israel without him. He reviews the ideas of following God’s laws, not being self-righteous, and the importance of learning the lessons of our collective history. He tells the People, “Therefore, keep the commandments of your God יהוה: walk in God’s ways and show reverence. For your God יהוה is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill; a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; a land where you may eat food without stint, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper. When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to your God יהוה for the good land given to you.”

Moses, knowing that he will not enter into the land of Israel with the People he shepherded from slavery to freedom uses his words to help them build resilience and strengthen their faith. He is orating, what we may know of today as an ethical will, (tzava’ah in Hebrew), for the people. We might recall that Jacob, too, on his deathbed, shared lessons and teachings with his children before his death.

In reflecting on key moments of history, Moses reminds the collective people that faith and following the commandments lead to a life of blessings. For Moses, he wants the people to know that through faith in a higher power, connection with community and with the land, they will be blessed and will continue to be resilient and thrive.

As we reflect on this week’s parsha, we are reminded of the power and legacy of our words. What are the lessons most important for us to share with those dear to us? And, how will we share those lessons in a way that is meaningful to those we love?