Parshas Vayelech contains one of the grimmest moments in the Torah. Sefer Devarim has seen some dreadful curses, but no moment in the Torah is quite as deflating as G-d's declaration that the Jews would sin and that G-d would forsake and hide from them, and then when the Jews would realize that they had done wrong and say, Ki Ein Elohai Bekirbi, Because G-d is not among us, Motzuni Haraot Haeleh, these things have come upon us. (Devarim 31:17). And instead of welcoming back his people, G-d responds with, "And I will surely hide my face on that day." That's the opposite message of the Shabbos Shuva drashos of so many Rabbis delivered on the Shabbat between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. It's far away from all the assurances that G-d is only waiting for us to return, to take the first step and be welcomed and forgiven. It seems hopeless. To understand it though, let's take a step back. Parshas Vayelech is foremost about the Torah. The Torah rarely discus...