A Conflict of Interest

Moshe’s life was defined by two passions: his passion for the Torah and his passion for Bnei Yisrael.

On the one hand, Moshe was “the lawgiver,” the perfect conduit through whom G‑d communicated His Torah to humanity. Hence the prophets’ reference to the Torah as “Moshe’s Torah.”

In his other role, Moshe was Bnei Yisrael’s faithful shepherd. His devotion to his nation was such that Rashi writes, “Moshe is Yisrael, and Yisrael is Moshe.”

But when Bnei Yisrael rebelled against the Torah’s most basic principle and worshipped the Golden Calf, Moshe’s passions clashed. As a result of their transgression, G‑d threatened to wipe Bnei Yisrael out and start a new nation from Moshe alone. But Moshe pleaded with G‑d to spare Bnei Yisrael, ultimately demanding, “If You will not forgive them, erase me now from Your Torah”—i.e., his attachment to Bnei Yisrael ran even deeper than his attachment to the Torah.

With this demand, Moshe secured forgiveness for Bnei Yisrael and saved them from devastation. By expressing his unbreakable attachment to Bnei Yisrael, Moshe similarly evoked G‑d’s affection for the Jewish people—an affection that transcends even His oneness with the Torah. By rekindling G‑d’s love for Bnei Yisrael, Moshe caused G‑d to accept and forgive them—and grant them another opportunity to keep His Torah.

—Likkutei Sichos, vol. 21, pp. 174–177