Parshat Nitzavim
This Shabbat we read Parshat Nitzavim. It is no coincidence that we read this parsha right before Rosh Hashana. There is a beautiful but enigmatic passage that appears in the parsha:
כי תשמע בקול ה אלקיך לשמר מצותיו וחקתיו הכתובה בספר התורה הזה כי תשוב אל ה’ אלוקיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך כי המצוה הזאת אשר אנכי מצוך היום לא נפלאת הוא ממך ולא רחוקה היא..
When you listen to the voice of Hashem, your G-d, to observe His commandments and His decrees, that are written in the Book of the Torah, when you shall return to Hashem, your G-d, with all of your heart and all of your soul. For this commandment which I command you today - it is not hidden from you and it is not distant, etc.
כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאוד בפיך ובלבבך לעשתו…… Behold, this thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it (Devarim 30: 11- 14).
It is interesting to note the Mitzvah referred to as “this commandment” is not defined as to exactly which mitzvah is being discussed. In this way, perhaps, everyone can attach their own personal meaning to the concept. The Rambam says that the phrase refers to the entire Torah, as mentioned in the pasuk that precedes it while the Sforno says that the mitzvah is that of Repentance, Teshuva, also as mentioned in the previous sentence. By pairing Torah, which at its essence demands that we pursue tsedek, justice, together with teshuva, our ability to correct misdoings, we can understand this passage as a mandate to believe that we have the innate ability to fight the status quo when it is unjust and create changes in ourselves and the world around us.
By informing us that “this mitzvah” is very close to us, indeed, within our mouths and hearts, we are encouraged to believe that we can be change; hope and progress are within our powers. We may sometimes feel defeated and think that what can one person do to make a difference in the world around us, we are actually encouraged by this passage, with the understanding that the capacity to effect change resides within us. When we see evil we dare not be silent. We cannot afford to be bystanders.
I would like to further postulate that as no specific mitzvah is assigned to this passage, certainly we cannot judge someone else and ascribe for them what is or is not a more important commandment to uphold. We are neither judge nor jury. Let’s leave that to G-d. However, we can understand that for ourselves, ALL of the mitzvot are of equal importance and it is not enough to do lip service but our hearts must truly be in it. Conversely, it is not enough to be a “cardiac Jew” and have G-d in your hearts, but you must actually demonstrate your respect and observance of the Torah’s commandments. And while this may seem daunting, Hashem gives us the chizuk, that it is not a difficult task. Keeping Torah and Mitzvot is not beyond our grasp - לא רחוקה היא- but it starts with the observation of one mitzvah, and then another mitzvah and then 613 Mitzvot. מצוה גוררת מצוה .
As we stand (“Nitzavim”) just days before Rosh Hashana, we must resolve to take action. Changing the world starts with changing ourselves. Doing Teshuva sincerely requires the desire to change and actually doing something about it. It’s starts with one small “resolution”, not something large or grandiose beyond our abilities. As I tell the students, pick one thing to work on this year - I will call my mother more often, I will give ten percent more tzedakah, I will not talk during davening, whatever this mitzvah means to you. One mitzvah at a time. Every journey starts with that first step.
Let’s hope that all of our steps lead us to a year filled with peace, prosperity, health and nachas from the children. May we all have strength, patience and wisdom to accomplish our goals.
Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova U’metuka. שנה טובה, שנת עושר ואושר , שלום ובריאות
Dr. Rochelle Brand
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