Parashiyot Nitzavim-Vayelech
SAN DIEGO — The parashiyot of Nitzavim–Vayelech are often read on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Hashanah. For good reason. Especially this year with synagogues closed, shortened services, reduced attendance, Zoom classes, with a never far off apprehension about health for those who do attend religious gatherings, many have wandered from observance, from Hashem, from mitzvot.
With Rosh Hashanah upon us, many are ripe to consider a path of teshuvah, of return. COVID19 has propelled many to want to return to what was. The Torah in Nitzavim tells us, “…when you obey the Lord, your God, to observe His commandments and His statutes written in this Torah scroll, [and] when you return to the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul. For this commandment which I command you this day, is not concealed from you, nor is it far away.” The Torah tells us to return, that its practical and attainable goals are within our grasp to do so, and all will be well when we do. This is meant to inspire us to move forward to repent and to renew our present and future link to Torah, to our authentic best selves, and to Hashem.
Nitzavim tells us that Hashem says, “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…” Do we really need to be told to make wise decisions in life? Choosing life means choosing to engage with family and friends – physically, spiritually, socially, cognitively, professionally, and civically. It means to choose to continually learn, grow, volunteer, mentor, travel and maintain an active spiritual/religious life. It also means choosing to pursue a healthy lifestyle including good nutrition, exercise, mindfulness and stress-prevention. This means choosing to use our inner strength, mental and physical, to live a life of health and wellbeing. Indeed, Judaism regards life as the highest good and we are obligated to live in a way that protects our health.
The 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. With 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, for the needs of our soul.
Specifically we read in Vayelech, “Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites,” that is, write or participate in writing, a Sefer Torah. We are told to take our past, carry it with us while renewing, refreshing, recharging our heritage for every generation. Want to gain immortality? The Vayelech tells us to keep moving and renew ourselves, to renew our days as of old, to keep to the covenant we received while refreshing it in our lives today. What Sefer Torah, what ideals, will you write for yourself and commit to in the coming year? How will you internalize each parasha in the coming year with personalized freshness? After all, it is up to us to insure that the message of renewal that Vayelech brings, continues for our future generations. How will you choose life this coming year? How will you live a life of Torah values and noble deeds?
Will you choose to live 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. These parashiyot guide us to move from a quarantined, distant mindset to a “heartset” that is close, at one with Hashem. 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.”
*
Michael Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly d’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family worship. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com