A New Lease for the World - Nitzavim Vayelech 5786

This is the last Shabbat of the current year.  Next Shabbat will be Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the year 5787.  This is our opportunity to prepare ourselves for the great days of Rosh Hashanah, the Ten days of Teshuvah, and Yom Kippur.  Everything important requires preparation.  How much more so the most monumental event of the year, when the entire Creation is renewed.  

It is interesting to note that the written Torah does not expressly state that the first of Tishrei is Rosh Hashanah.  This day is defined in the Torah as “Yom Teruah” - a day of blowing the Shofar.  We pair this with a verse in Tehillim (Psalms 81:4,5): “Sound the shofar on the New Moon, on the appointed time for the day of our festival. For it is a statute for Israel, the judgment of the G-d of Jacob.”  The only festival that occurs at the time of the New Moon is the one on the first of Tishrei.  All others happen when the moon is full or already well lit up.  

So putting it all together, on a festival that occurs at the New Moon we blow the Shofar and that is the day of judgment, which happens at the beginning of each year.  So now we know that the festival of the first of Tishrei is Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the year.

Now we have one more step.  We read a few weeks ago, in Parshat Eikev (Devarim 11:12), describing the special qualities of the Holy Land, that Israel is “a land the L-rd, your G-d, looks after; the eyes of L-rd your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.  The obvious question is: Since from the beginning of the year till the end of the year is actually always, why not just leave it at “the eyes of L-rd your G-d are always upon it?”  Why add the seemingly redundant words “from the beginning of the year to the end of the year?”  The answer is that Hashem judges at the beginning of the year what will happen throughout the year.  This shows us, then, that the day of judgment is the beginning of the year, hence that is the first of Tishrei.

Based on Chassidic teachings, this “judgment” goes much deeper than just a judge handing down decisions.  The entire universe was created in order for humans, with free choice, to make the world a home for Hashem.  On the day he was created, Adam stood up and pronounced (Tehillim 93): “Hashem has ruled...” By proclaiming Hashem’s sovereignty, Adam had lived up to the mission and fulfilled the purpose of Creation, making the world a home for Hashem.  So Hashem gave the world a lease for a year. That lease needs to be renewed every year, because Hashem desired that His presence on Earth be revealed by us humans..  When we blow the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah and accept Hashem as the ruler of the world, Hashem gives the word another year of light and life.

To prepare us for this great day, we read the Parsha of Nitzavim, that opens with Moshe, in his final words to his beloved people before he passes away, stating: “You are all standing this day before the L-rd, your G-d, the leaders of your tribes, your elders... your woodcutters and your water drawers... that you may enter the covenant of the L-rd...”  “This day” alludes to the “great day of judgment” on Rosh Hashanah, and Moshe enumerates ten categories of Jews, from the great leaders to the simple water drawers.

A classic lesson from these verses is that in order to stand strong and succeed in the judgment, we need to recognize the value of every individual and stand united as one.  Just as our bodies have many parts, from the head to the feet, and all have qualities the other does not, so too every person in the “Body” of our nation has qualities that are unique and vital to all of us.  The head has much more significance to our functions than the feet, and controls the entire body, but without the feet it can’t get where it needs to go.  Similarly while the great scholars and leaders teach and lead the people, they are not complete without the most seemingly simple people.

I would like to suggest another important lesson.  Everyone approaches Rosh Hashanah in their own way.  For some it is greatly inspiring and life-changing.  For others it may seem like a nice holiday with wonderful traditions.  But I have heard people say that they don’t feel that it has relevance to them.  They might feel far from observance throughout the year, and don't feel that they will be moved to grow or change on Rosh Hashanah.  Some have expressed fear of getting into the whole subject of judgment.  Or they might think “who am I to approach G-d?”

The opening verses of our Parsha offer encouragement to each of us.  Whether you consider yourself at the top of the leadership or as an insignificant nobody. Hashem includes you as an important part of the nation.  What you do matters, and yes, you contribute to the greatness of the nation  as a whole. You can connect with Hashem on this great day, because the essence of your soul is part of Him.  

I encourage you to read as many Torah and Chassidus articles as you can about this Parsha and about the upcoming Holidays.  Don’t feel inadequate or left out.  Make a practical resolution that is sustainable.  Pledge to observe one positive and one negative Mitzvah that you have not been observing or enhance and beautify what you have been doing already.

Hashem created each of us.  He loves us and wants to give us all His blessings.  He is not looking for us to fail and to be punished.  He wants to bless and reward us.  As Moshe said:  You are all standing before Hashem.  The word he uses for standing is not “Omdim”, which means just standing, but “Nitzavim”, which has the connotation of standing strong, upright and victorious.

May you be inscribed and sealed for a sweet and great New Year.