Parashat Nitzavim 5782

by Rabbi Margie Cella

Moses calls together the entire nation to hear the end of his third and final speech: the men, children, wives, and strangers all gather to enter into the covenant. They will be God’s people and the Lord will be their God, fulfilling the promise that had been made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Further, this covenant is made not only with those who were physically present, but also with those who were not there—i.e., all the future generations of Jews.

The people are warned that anyone who goes after the gods of the other nations will be subjected to all the curses previously enumerated, and God will blot out his/her name. Nevertheless, if they return to the Lord, then God will gather a remnant from all the nations, bringing them back into the land and turning the curses on their enemies.

Moses lays out a choice: God sets before the nation life and good, death and evil, blessing and curse. Heaven and earth are called upon to witnesses this covenant. He commands the people to love God, obeying the commandments, so that they and their descendants may live in the land, and it will be blessed by God.

He exhorts them: choose life! 

The haftarah also emphasizes the importance of choosing God and an ethical life.

It is for this reason that this parashah is always read on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Hashanah. As we approach the High Holidays, we are all urged to do teshuvah, recommitting ourselves to a life of Torah observance, so that we may be sealed in God’s book. Choose life! Hazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous.

I wish you all a Shanah Tovah u’Metukah.