In the 1960’s and 70’s (depending on which version you like) and for generations after, music listeners around the globe have enjoyed the Motown hit, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” It’s no wonder that this song continues to maintain popularity; the bass line and beat thump in a way that is casual yet danceable, making it perfect for radio play and many a b’nei mitzvah party. Oh, and of course, the lyrics remind us of this week’s Parsha!
Before you think that this is just some cringey forced connection, let’s take a look at our Torah. In Deuteronomy 30 we read:
יא כִּ֚י הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם לֹא־נִפְלֵ֥את הִוא֙ מִמְּךָ֔ וְלֹ֥א רְחֹקָ֖ה הִֽוא׃
יב לֹ֥א בַשָּׁמַ֖יִם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֤נוּ הַשָּׁמַ֙יְמָה֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃
יג וְלֹא־מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיָּ֖ם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲבר־ללָ֜נוּ אֶל־עֵ֤בֶר הַיָּם֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃
יד כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב אֵלֶ֛יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר מְאֹ֑ד בְּפִ֥יךָ וּבִֽלְבָבְךָ֖ לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ׃ {ס}
“11 Surely, this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. 12 It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” 14 No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.”
If the connection hasn’t jumped out at you yet, or you’re just not familiar with the song, let’s examine the second verse and chorus. We read (and sing!):
“Remember the day I set you free / I told you you could always coun’t on me, darlin / From that day on, I made a vow / I’ll be there when you want me, someway somehow / Oh baby there ain’t no mountain high enough / ain’t no valley low enough / ain’t no river wide enough/ to keep me from gettin’ to you, babe”
What may have begun as a song about the support of love and friendship between human beings, for us it can become a song of commitment to our Torah. The Torah is not in heaven, not is it beyond the sea. May there be no mountain high, valley low, or river wide enough to keep us away from it. May we remember that Torah is always there when we call (and may we call upon it often)! This is the reciprocal vow which our ancestors made with God that we are privileged to maintain today. Let us dance and rejoice in it (to this song!)