Parashat Nitzavim/Vayeilech
D’varim (Deuteronomy) 29:9-31:30
Third Triennial Torah Reading: D’varim 31:7-31:30
Thoughts on Parashat Nitzavim/Vayeilech:
Writing our Song for the New Year
Summary
These two Torah portions are usually linked together in this week before Rosh Hashanah. In them, as Moses approaches the end of his life, he wraps up his discourse with the people, who are gathered together awaiting entry into the Promised Land. Moses ends on a positive note, reaffirming and renewing the covenant between the people and God. The Torah asks that we choose life, despite our challenges and other inducements that will arise in our lives, complicating and even obscuring our choices. As Moses begins to take leave of the people, empowering Joshua to lead, he beseeches the Priests to read the Torah to the people on a regular cycle, so that the words do not depart from the people and the power and majesty of God remains in the center.
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It is clear that the covenant is open to everyone – despite one’s background, interest or previous actions. It is acknowledged in the Torah that in our lives, both blessings and curses will fall. In these moments, we will return to God and God will return to us. For both us and God, exile will be broken. Despite everything, we are still standing, ready to try again, as we live this day. The Torah teaches that we are never lost; rather we can take a new step out from prior patterns of behavior or experience. Possessing this kind of courage too, will affect our future generations.
Further, we choose life by possessing areivut, responsibility for each other. We do not rely on signs and wonders – the Torah is accessible and right before our eyes. As Sforno, a 16th century Italian commentator, teaches – we do not need a prophet or a guru to bring us heavenly messages – our success depends on our own efforts and our caring for our community.
We too, know of our mortality. We have a time to stand together (nitzavim hayom kulchem) and we too have a time to walk away (vayeilech). Our lives are short and fragile – how do we use our time? What do we consider important? What do we try to get away from? As Moses struggled with his end, we too find reassurance in knowing that in our traditions, transitions have not been easy. In encountering his death, Moses composed a song to sing – in it he recognized that death is not a battle to be conquered, but something to carefully consider and reflect on.
May these days of the New Year inspire us to create the melodies and harmonies of our songs as we sit with confidence and gratitude in our chosen sanctuary. May we have the comfort of other people – may we recognize our own gentleness as we pursue our Truths and may we build our community as we take responsibility (areivut) for our actions and our place within it.
Shana Tova u’Metuka (A Sweet and Good New Year)
K’tva v’Hatima Tova (May you and your loved ones be written and sealed for good in the Book of Life)
Shabbat Shalom,
Neil F. Blumofe
Rabbi
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