Life is filled with journeys. Some are physical treks that take us across great distances. Others are journeys of learning, growth, and spiritual discovery. Still, others are paths of healing, of rebuilding strength, resilience, or hope. Each journey has the potential to transform us, to shift how we see the world and our place in it. Our tradition honors these sacred paths, knowing that movement—whether of body, heart, or soul—is essential to becoming who we are meant to be.
In this week’s parsha, Va-et’chanan, we find Moses pouring his heart out to God. He pleads to enter the Promised Land, but God gently refuses. Instead, Moses is invited to climb a mountain and see the land from afar. While he may not step foot in it, he is given a powerful gift: perspective.
This Torah portion is filled with moments of vision and clarity, not just physical sight, but spiritual insight. It includes the Shema, our central declaration of faith, reminding us to listen, to see, and to teach these values to future generations.
It is fitting, then, to highlight the story of someone on a journey not unlike Moses’. A journey driven by vision in every sense of the word. Thanks to Instagram, I have been fascinated by the amazing trek of Alexander Campbell. Campbell, a 27-year-old Australian, is walking across the world. He began in Sydney on February 12th, 2023, and has already trekked across Australia and Asia, soon to enter Europe. But he is not walking for fame, to set records, or for personal glory. He walks to raise awareness and funds for the Fred Hollows Foundation, an organization dedicated to preventing avoidable blindness and restoring sight to people in underserved communities across the globe.
Campbell’s mission resonates deeply with Va-et’chanan. Where Moses was called to see the land and pass on a legacy, Campbell walks to give the gift of literal sight, restoring vision and hope to people he will never meet. Both teach us that what we do with our vision matters.
The Shema urges us to be present, to love deeply, and to teach diligently. Campbell’s journey is a living expression of these principles: one step at a time, he is changing lives, not with a miracle, but with commitment, compassion, and clarity of purpose.
As we reflect on Va-et’chanan this Shabbat, let’s ask ourselves: How can we see more clearly? How can we help others see—with their eyes, their hearts, and their spirits? And how can our own journeys become pathways toward healing, hope, and holiness?
To learn more about Alexander Campbell’s journey and the cause he supports, visit www.worldwalkexpedition.com.
Shabbat Shalom,
Danny Glassman