D'var Torah
Parashat Nitzavim - Vayelech 5770
Dear Friends,
The rabbi was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the synagogue building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular cantor was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute chazan (cantor) wanted to know which selections of the service to chant. "Here's a copy of the service," the rabbi said impatiently, "but you'll have to think of something to sing after I make the appeal about the finances." During his sermon, the rabbi said, "My dear, worthy congregants, brothers and sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $14,000 more than we have allocated. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up." At that moment, the substitute chazan started singing "The Star-Spangled Banner"-and that is how the substitute cantor became the permanent one!
The name of this week's Torah portion, Nitzavim, means "Standing," and the Torah portion begins, "You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord, your G-d: the heads of your tribes, your elders and your officers - all the people of Israel...for you to pass into the Covenant of the Lord, your G-d, that...G-d seals with you today in order to establish you today as a people to Him and that He be a G-d to you....Not with you alone do I seal this Covenant and this oath, but with whoever is here standing with us today before the Lord, our G-d, and with whoever is not here with us today." (Deuteronomy 29:9-14)
This Torah selection, always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah, gives us not only instruction, but also guidance for the new year. Even as we would stand with alacrity when we would hear the National Anthem being played, so too should a Jew stand and respond to the voice and command of G-d. In this special season of the year, we acknowledge the sacredness of our lives and the purpose of our being. Our connection with the Almighty is not a distant, foreign one, but rather a familial one--we acknowledge that we are His people and He is our G-d. What a beautiful thought to keep in mind! This penitential season reminds us that in spite of our failings and our frailties, we are created in the Divine image, and we bear the imprint of G-d upon us. When our own activities likewise can allow that imprint to be indelibly carved into our actions and our good deeds, we truly have helped to create a better, sacred world. Significantly, the Torah portion specifically points out that this relationship with the Almighty is not limited to those who stood then at Mt. Sinai or who entered the Promised Land, but also continues through their descendants. We - you and I -are the heirs to their sacred traditions and teachings.
As we begin the recitation of the Selichot -penitential prayers - this Saturday night and formally usher in the season of repentance, we stand for the highlights of the Selichot, which include the Confessional and the invocation of the Thirteen Attributes of Divine Mercy, proclaiming G-d as compassionate and gracious, abundant in kindness and truth. As He is compassionate and gracious and abundant in kindness and truth, so may we be! When called upon to help our fellows Jews and all who are in need, let us stand and respond compassionately, graciously, and with abundant kindness.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David D. Schonblum
What's Happening at . . .
