D’var Torah for September 28, 2019

Parasha Nitzavim

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Mantell

SAN DIEGO — This week’s Torah portion Nitzavim, is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana. It asks us where we stand as we enter the new year.

The parasha teaches that G-d tells us, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. You shall choose life, so that you and your offspring will live…” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Do we really need to be told to choose life?

There are many interpretations of what it means to choose life. For example, the Yerushalmi interprets it as an obligation to earn a livelihood. Kohelet Rabba interprets it as an obligation to teach a son to swim, to ensure his physical survival. Remember, it says, “…so that you and your offspring will live…” Choosing to live a Jewish life with pride and joy, not with “oy,” benefits our offspring.

Choosing life means fully engaging with family and friends – physically, spiritually, socially, cognitively, professionally, and civically. It means continually learning, growing, volunteering, mentoring, traveling, maintaining an active spiritual/religious life. It also means pursuing a healthy lifestyle including good nutrition, exercise, mindfulness and stress-prevention. This means using the inner strength, mentally and physically, to live a life of health.

Indeed, Judaism regards life as the highest good and we are obligated to live in a way that protects our health. Choshen Mishpat 427, Yoreh De’ah 116, and Chulin 9a make it clear that we are to be more particular about matters concerning danger to health than about ritual matters.

Choosing life means seeing beyond the material and connecting to the deeper essence of an experience. When we eat, we can focus on the taste of something or feel more deeply grateful for the ultimate source of the food we have, Hashem. We can look beyond the outside to see that which lies within experiences, the connections in life, to see the links that bring us together, to recognize that everything happens FOR us in life, rather than TO us.

These days upon us, Rosh Hashana, the Fast of Gedalia, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hoshana Rabah, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, we contemplate our needs and our deeds, our hopes and aspirations for the coming year. and in so doing, we choose life. This is a central message of the High Holidays…to choose life, to live a live filled with mitzvot, not just to pray to win a lottery or for the health of one’s body, but ideally, for the needs of our soul as well.

The parasha goes on to say, “To love the Lord your God, to listen to His voice, and to cleave to Him. For that is your life and the length of your days, to dwell on the land which the Lord swore to your forefathers to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob to give to them” (Deuteronomy 30:20). This is choosing a life of wisdom and vision “To love the L-rd your G-d, to listen to His voice, and to cleave to Him…” which in turn allows us to receive His unbounded kindness, the gift of life.

How will you choose life this coming year? Will you choose to live for others joyously, fully engaged, loving the Lord your G-d…that’s how you can be sure you will live fully and know what choosing life is ultimately all about.

Wishing all a “Ketivah v’chatima tovah,” “A good inscription and sealing in the Book of Life, “Leshana tovah tikatev v’tichatem” “May you be written and sealed for a good year,” and “A gut gebentsht yohr,” “A good and blessed year.”

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Dr. Mantell writes a d’var Torah each week for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family worship.