By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — This week’s Torah portion Nitzavim, with its majestic and simultaneously chilling tone, is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah. That’s right, it’s only a few days away. It asks us where we stand as we enter the new year. The parasha teaches that Hashem 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.”
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 benefits our offspring.
Choosing life means fully engaging with family and friends — physically, spiritually, socially, cognitively, professionally, and civically. U’vacharta ba’chayyim, a meaningful life, is the life we build together. It means continually learning, growing, volunteering, mentoring, traveling, maintaining an active spiritual/religious life. It also means pursuing a healthy lifestyle including compassion, courage, calm, good nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and stress-prevention. After all, the only place mind body and spirit are separate is in textbooks. This means using our inner strength, mentally and physically, to live a life of health. But we are often prone to self-deception, thinking the rules of leading a healthy life apply to others, not ourselves.
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 our daily experiences, the deeper more meaningful connections in life, to see the links that bring us together, to recognize that everything happens FOR us in life, rather than TO us. What stops us? Are we too absorbed in worldly pleasures that can never satisfy us, always striving for more? The Ibn Pakuda notes that another reason that we may not appreciate what is right before us, is that we are so used to our blessings that we no longer see them. He also points to the fact that we are stuck looking at our adversities and thus we lose sight of the good in our lives.
During these days coming 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 being, living. This is a central message of the High Holidays — to choose life, to live a life 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. And for the needs of others.
Indeed, look carefully into the opening words of this sedra — Atem nitzavim hayom — that can mean, “You stand firm this day,” and the midrash known as Tanchuma (Nitzavim 1) asks, “When [does the Jewish people stand firm]?” When you will be unified, as it says,” Those of you who hold fast to the Eternal your God are all alive today.” Unity. Harmony. Accord. How united are we? Must we all practice according to one interpretation of our tradition? Must we all be unified in our political opinions? “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh,” we are all responsible for one another, even amongst our diferences. When we amplify and expand our ability to act together, to speak up for one another, we strengthen our community, our kehilla.
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.” This, 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 God — that’s how you can be sure you will live fully and know what choosing life is ultimately all about. Remember, Nitzavim contains stunningly beautiful verses which teach us that Hashem’s Torah “is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.” Prayer, which combines what’s in our hearts and in our minds, is a method we can use daily to help us choose a consequential life. Our tradition insists that we each have the capability to grow, to change for the better.
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.
Shabbat Shalom…
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com