A Pisgah Moment: The Wedding of Natan and Tamar

As I reflect on this evening, when my son Natan and my future daughter-in-law Tamar will stand under the chuppah, I am reminded of two mountains in our heritage: Mount Pisgah, where Moses glimpsed the land promised to our people, and Mount Moriah, where Abraham demonstrated his ultimate devotion. These mountains represent moments of vision and sacrifice, and tonight, as we gather to witness Natan and Tamar’s union, these themes feel especially close to our hearts.

In Deuteronomy 34:1, we read: “וַיַּעַל מֹשֶׁה מֵעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב אֶל הַר נְבוֹ רֹאשׁ הַפִּסְגָּה אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי יְרֵחוֹ, וַיַּרְאֵהוּ ה’ אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ, אֶת הַגִּלְעָד עַד דָּן.” “Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land—Gilead as far as Dan.” Standing on Pisgah, Moses was granted a vision of the future of his people, though he would not enter the land himself. Tonight, as we stand here, we too are given a glimpse of the future that Natan and Tamar will build together. We see before us not only their love and hopes but also their connection to something greater—the unbroken chain of generations rooted in this land.

This week’s Torah portion brings us to Mount Moriah, where Abraham, in an act of profound devotion, demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice his son. In Genesis 22:10, it says, “וַיִּשְׁלַח אַבְרָהָם אֶת יָדוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת הַמַּאֲכֶלֶת לִשְׁחֹט אֶת בְּנוֹ.” “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” Though God spared Isaac, this act of faith and devotion has come to represent our people’s readiness to make sacrifices for each other and for our shared destiny. Living in Israel today, we feel the weight of this same commitment. The joy of Natan and Tamar’s wedding is inseparable from the sacrifices that allow us to be here together. Many have given everything for us to stand here, and those who remain share in an enduring responsibility.

Natan, recently returned from his third tour of duty over these past several months, stands here tonight under the chuppah with Tamar, who serves continuously in the Israeli Army Reserves. When Natan places the ring on Tamar’s finger כדת משה וישראל—according to the law of Moses and Israel—their bond becomes a new link in the chain of our people. This sacred act, simple yet profound, represents their commitment to each other and to the heritage they now carry forward together. Their marriage is more than a union; it is a shared responsibility to uphold the faith, resilience, and values that have sustained our people.

Tonight is our own Pisgah—a place from which we see both the beauty of what has been built and the challenges that lie ahead. From here, we pray that Natan and Tamar’s life together will be blessed with strength, that they will embrace the responsibilities of peoplehood, and that their love will be a blessing to our land and people for generations to come. May their union honor the legacy they inherit, and may the future they build together shine with peace, unity, and love.