Sidrah
Parashah of the week: Devarim
“How can I bear your troubles, your burdens, and your quarrels all by myself?” Deuteronomy 1:12
July 31, 2025 14:44
“How can I bear your troubles, your burdens, and your quarrels all by myself?” Deuteronomy 1:12
July 31, 2025 14:44These words, spoken by Moses thousands of years ago, feel surprisingly modern. They sound like something any one of us might say on an ordinary Tuesday: overwhelmed by work emails, family WhatsApps, social tensions and the general wear-and-tear of life. The sense of having too much on one’s shoulders — and too little support — is timeless.
But what Moses does next is the real message. He doesn’t give up. He doesn’t isolate. He builds a team. He appoints judges, delegates leadership and creates a community that can share the load.
In today’s world, we’re more connected than ever, and yet more people feel alone, burnt out or emotionally stretched thin.
The rise of remote working, social media and “hustle culture” can give the illusion that we have to do everything — and do it all ourselves. But Moses’s example offers a counter-message: we’re not meant to carry it all alone.
There’s wisdom here for modern life. We thrive when we ask for help. When we stop pretending to have it all together. When we build support structures — whether it’s professional networks, friendships, therapy, mentoring or simply being there for each other.
His question — “How can I bear this all by myself?” — doesn’t reflect weakness. It reflects self-awareness. It’s the moment a leader realises that strength lies not in doing everything, but in knowing you can’t.
And it’s not just about asking for help — it’s also about being the person who offers it. The one who checks in, who listens, who says “you’re not alone”. Because chances are, someone else is asking the same question — silently — hoping someone hears it.
So as we read these ancient words in a modern age, perhaps they can serve as a gentle reminder: we all have burdens. But we’re not meant to carry them alone. And often, just knowing that is enough to make them feel lighter.
Image: Moses, by James Tissot (1836-1902, from the Jewish Museum, New York)