Torah commentary published in the Arizona Jewish News for August 30, 2013 by Rabbi Magal
This double portion - Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 31:1 – 31:30) and
Vayelech (Deuteronomy 31:1 – 31:30)
- brings us a continuation of Moses’ third
farewell speech to Israel. Nitzavim opens with “You are all
assembled here today…” as Moses emphasizes to the Children of Israel that they
are all gathered together, from those in the highest
leadership positions to the lowly water
carriers, old, young, male, female, and even the yet-to-be-born of future
generations, all receiving the Covenant, and all connected as if neither time
nor space would separate them from the immediacy of the message Moses is
relaying. It goes on to affirm that we
should choose life, choose blessing, choose mitzvot, and choose to see ourselves
as part of a community throughout all time.
Vayelech
tells of the appointment of Joshua by Moses to be his successor as leader to
bring the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. “Be strong and of good courage!” Moses says, first in the plural to the people,
and then in the singular to Joshua. Rabbi Albert Plotkin, of blessed memory, who
served as a beloved spiritual leader in Phoenix and in Sedona for so many years,
used to conclude each of his sermons with that ringing refrain, Hazak v’ematz!
What fitting readings to be studying during these last few days
before the Jewish Year! During this
month of Elul many of us have been preparing for the Days of Awe by reviewing
our year, our words and deeds, our “missing the mark,” and doing our best to ask
for forgiveness from others, as well as to grant forgiveness to others.
Just as Moses foresaw that Israel will break the Covenant, imitate
the ways of other nations, be misled, and suffer with harsh exile, and yet will
always have the doorway of repentance through which to re-enter, and will again
enjoy the blessings of the Covenant, so we too are comforted by the assurance
that if we make a sincere step toward living with the values of our tradition,
we too will share in the blessing conferred on our
ancestors.
In our synagogue, the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde
Valley, we prepare a small “Book of Life” for people to fill out at home during
the High Holy Days, in which they ask themselves what kinds of goals they had
set in the past year, how they fulfilled them, and what still remains to be
accomplished. We provide a sticker with
which they can “seal” the little folded booklet, metaphorically like the
“Chatimah,” the sealing of the Book of Life at the conclusion of Yom Kippur.
While we cannot know how long we will live, we do know that our words and deeds
of the past year form a record, and it is as if our actions of compassion and
generosity are indeed written in the Book of Living Fully, of making each day
count.
Just as we are to feel that each of us came out of Egypt in the
Exodus, and that each one of us stood at Sinai to receive Torah, this week in
our Torah readings we are thrust back again into the dramatic scene as, at the
end of the 40 years’ trek in the wilderness, we are reminded by Moses of our
inclusion in the journey of the Israelites up to our own day and on into the
future. You and I are really there!
May the shofar blasts awaken us and reconnect us with our ancient
roots. May our kindest, most generous deeds be recorded, and may we make efforts
to repair and heal any mistakes or misunderstandings. May we be granted the gift of another year,
as sweet as round challah with raisins.
L’Shanah Tovah.
