Memorial Book for Rabbi Zelig Sharfstein of Cincinnati, Ohio

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The Sages note that the day of Moshe's passing, the 7th of Adar, almost always occurs in the week in which we read this portion, so the absence of his name is an appropriate indication of his passing. But then they go on to teach an amazing lesson. They say that the lack of Moshe's name in this portion was really caused by Moshe himself!
Back, after the nation had sinned with the Golden Calf, G-d was ready to kill them all and start a new nation from Moshe. But Moshe wouldn't hear of it. Moshe defended his flock and argued for their forgiveness. "Please O' G-d forgive them, and if not," continued Moshe, "Micheini noh misfires - Erase me from your book that You have written!"
Although G-d did not ultimately accept Moshe's petition on be-half of our ancestors, the words of the Tzadik are powerful and cannot be ignored. The effect of those words, therefore, was that somewhere in the Torah, Moshe's name would be erased. Moshe would be missing where he normally should have appeared. Thus, in this week's portion, Moshe's name is absent.
Yet what really is a name? Does a person require a name for himself? Not really, he knows who he is. A name is for
others to use to be able to attract his attention. In other words, a name is external, a way for others to identify or describe him.
The essence of a person is beyond any name or title. So why is Moshe's name not mentioned? Is this a punishment because he said: "Erase me" at the Golden Calf? I think not. I think not using


 
In honor of Shloshim 5 Adar 2, 5768