Parasha Vayelech
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO –Last week we read in Nitzavim about standing in place and on this coming Shabbos we read about moving and transitioning in Vayelech. Are we ready to get up and move? I’m not talking about physical exercise, but rather spiritual growth, renewing ourselves from one year to the next. Vayelech [“And he went…”] represents our recognition of the power of moving “forward onward, upward together.”
Interestingly on this Shabbos Shuva we typically think in terms of “return.” That conjures moving back, returning to something in our past. However, this “return” 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, to Hashem. This return is a growth mindset that is anchored in time, developing greater self-awareness that is essential for self-development, moving from darkness to light. This process of personal transformation enables us to shift into the person we want to be and to live the life we would like to live…closer to Hashem, with greater faith, and more aligned with our Jewish community.
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. This journey of discovery will help us ascend mountaintops and travail those times we despair in life’s deep valleys. Looking for a truly powerful exercise for self-transformation during these days ahead? Try seeing yourself through the eyes of Hashem as He sees you.
Want to gain immortality? The parasha tells us to keep moving and renew ourselves, to renew our days as of old, to keep to the covenant we received while meaningully 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? Want to truly transform? Ask yourself what you bring and give to others, rather than what humanity gives to you. After all, it is up to us to ensure that the message of renewal that Vayelech brings, continues for all future generations.
Remember leaving services last Yom Kippur, the grandeur of Neilah upon us, filled with promises to live better lives? Yet so soon afterwards many old habits reemerged – maybe even before that first morsel of food was swallowed, after the long fast. Like January’s New Year’s resolutions to “eat less and move more” that quickly fade before February, we make promises to transform during the Days of Awe, that are fleeting and short-lived. We’re human. We are filled with introspection, we repent, we make promises, and then fall asleep until the next Yom Kippur. And here we are again.
In this week’s parasha, we are told three times, “Be strong and courageous.” And we are also told, “Be strong and courageous! Neither fear, nor be dismayed of them, for the Lord, your G-d He is the One Who goes with you. He will neither fail you, nor forsake you.”
חִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֥וּ וְאַל־תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּ֣י | יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ ה֚וּא הַֽהֹלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א יַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א יַֽעַזְבֶֽךָּ:
Even with G-d at our side, we fall into spiritual oblivion. Perhaps we don’t genuinely understand that He goes with us, that He doesn’t allow us to fail and doesn’t forsake us. He only helps us grow. So, what’s missing? Perhaps our eyes and our minds are closed.
A Chassidic story may help open our eyes and awaken our resoluteness. “One day Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch was walking with some of his Chasidim when he saw a little girl standing behind a wall and crying. ‘Why are you crying, little girl?’ he asked. ‘I was playing hide-and-seek with my friends,’ said the little girl, ‘and they didn’t come to look for me.’ Rabbi Dov Ber sighed and said to his Chasidim: ‘In that little girl’s reply I heard the lament of the Shechinah: I will surely hide my face. I hid, as it were, and no one came to look for Me.”
Are we not looking, seeking Hashem throughout the year? Have we been hiding from ourselves as well? He understands we can’t do it alone, and He tells us we don’t have to, that He is right by our side. Always. But, is He hiding? Indeed, the parasha informs us, “And I will hide My face on that day, because of all the evil they have committed, when they turned to other deities.”
וְאָֽנֹכִ֗י הַסְתֵּ֨ר אַסְתִּ֤יר פָּנַי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא עַ֥ל כָּל־הָֽרָעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה כִּ֣י פָנָ֔ה אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲחֵרִֽים:
It is up to us to take off our spiritual blindfolds and to genuinely, authentically, search for Him. That’s what He wants! But for those who are spiritually blinded, that search stops. Some fail to see the positive signs of G-d’s continual presence, not actually hidden at all. It is up to us to find Him. To do so, we would be wise to recognize that Hashem empowers us with the ability to renew ourselves to return to Him.
We begin this 10-day path on Rosh Hashanah, looking within to discover our self-created obstacles that have held us back and have pointed us to other deities. On R’H, we disconnect from, and toss away, these impediments. With 100 shofar blasts that are sounded over Rosh Hashanah we are startled, shaken up and awakened to be more mindful to our spiritual lives, which infuse our wellbeing.
We put in increased energy for greater self-awareness and insights to return stronger and more closely connected. On Yom Kippur we find Him, reconnect with “strength and courage” to His presence in our lives, free of fear and dismay, with all our mind, body and soul, and begin anew…truly transformed and prepared to live more optimally, more inspired, on a higher level in the coming year.
It has been a very special honor to be able to write this weekly D’var Torah over the past year, and I look forward to continuing to do so in the coming year, with the help of Hashem, בְּעֶזְרָת הַשֵּׁם.
Shabbat Shalom שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם to all, wishing all an easy and deeply meaningful fast on Yom Kipur, and a G’mar Chatima Tovah… גמר חתימה טובה May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for Good.
Finally, to those I have wronged, I ask forgiveness…
To those I’ve helped, I wish I did more…
To those I neglected, I ask for understanding…
To those who have helped me, I sincerely thank you.
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