Sedra Nitzavim/ Vayeilech- Who are you standing before?

 

 The Sedra of Nitzavim commences with the words “You are standing here this day, all of you, before Hashem your G-d, your heads, your tribes, your elders and your officers, indeed, all the men of Israel.” (29.9)

 

The ‘Hayom’ today referred to some say is on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur every year. (Zohar).

Every year learned people and laymen, rich and poor, wise and ignorant, all gather on the day of judgement before the Heavenly tribunal ( Midrash Tanchuma)

 

When looking closely at the opening words of the Sedra the Torah records

‘Atem Nitzavim’ not ‘Atem Omdim’ which would be the usual translation of ‘standing’.

Nitzavim means firm or unbending. Jews who are firm in their commitment to Judaism and the principle of ‘One G-d’ and who are ready to accept ‘Ol Malchus Shamayim’- the yoke of Heavenly Kingship are indeed the metzevos

and monuments of a Torah that has never changed.

 

In addressing the assembled people in this way Moses is in fact referring to every jew, no matter what standing or station in life.

However looking at the verse initially it addresses the people collectively ‘all of you’ but then proceeds to make a distinction between the different classes of jews ‘ your heads, your tribes, your elders, your officers, even all the men of Israel’.

The idea here is that whilst the strength for our people lies in our ‘achdus’, our unity, we are first and foremost individuals with our own unique potential to make our own contribution to Klal Yisroel.

The unity of our people is secure when we act as individuals, each fulfilling to the best of our ability the Divine instruction of the Torah. Only when we aim to fulfil our potential will we be able to play our part in the unification of our people.

Each and everyone of us has been given a role to follow everyday of our lives.

We greatly underestimate the potential we have to influence others- for good.

‘You only get one chance to make a first impression’.

 

Realising our potential to bring us closer to G-d sometimes seems an enormous task. The Sedra tells us “It is not in the heavens, (for you) to say, “who can ascend to the heavens for us and take it for us, and let us hear it, so that we can perform it?” Nor is it across the sea (for you) to say, Who can cross the sea for us to take it for us, and let us hear it, so that we can perform it?” Rather the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to perform it.

Whatever trade or profession we have now, it was not acquired at birth. We all had to learn the skills we have in order to make a living.

The Ohel Torah remarks that if we put the same effort into learning Torah and performing mitzvos we would be just as skilful and successful as we are through are secular efforts.

 

 

 

 

 

When we stand before our Heavenly Father and request His help during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we have to ask ourselves an important question. Do we stand before Hashem as an acquaintance or as a stranger?

What right do we have to give Hashem a list of our needs and wants as indicated in the Avinu Malkeynu prayer.

We shout out loud and clear our requests until the last stanza, when we should whisper, that unfortunately we have nothing to give in return but want Hashem to give us everything we ask for on credit.

When we petition our Father in Heaven to help us and grant us our requests we cannot rely on the merits of our ancestors

 

The story is told of a very successful merchant whose business grew and grew and he became very wealthy and well known. Unfortunately he had a fire which destroyed everything he possessed. He was most upset that he would not be able to honour a debt that he owed to a longstanding supplier of many years. After taking advice he decided to approach the supplier with his situation to see what could be done. Once outside the supplier’s door he broke down and cried uncontrollably. The supplier heard his cries and went to see what the matter was. After listening to the merchant’s sad story he told him not to worry. Because he had been such a good customer for many years,   having established an excellent credit history, always paying on time, the supplier was prepared to wipe out his debt completely so that nothing was owed.

 

Only this week we have witnessed a “Pigua” in the tragic loss of life of four kedoshim from the West Bank whose lives should be remebered for a bracha. Their loss should hasten the coming of Moshiach and herald the end of bloodshed and the beginning of peace and calm. May their families be comforted together with all those that mourn for Zion and Yerushaliyim.

 

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we cast our eyes to the heavens and call out to our Father in Heaven to cancel our debt to Him. When we pray this year we should think who we are standing in front of.

I wonder if sometimes if our prayers are said mechanically by rote without thinking who we are standing in front of.

I am going to do my best to concentrate this year on where I am standing and before whom – what about you?

 

Wishing you all a Shana Tova to merit good health and much happiness in the coming year. Shabbat Shalom from TTFN.

 

(Part of a regular shiur given on Thursdays at Young Israel of North Netanya Synagogue.)