Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5784

It is no wonder that the rabbis arranged the reading of the Torah so that Nitzavim is
always read the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana. Rosh Hashana is not only the first
day of the New Year, but also the first day of the month of Tishrei. Tishrei
corresponds to the astrological sign of Libra, the month symbolised by the balance.
This sense of balance is emphasised by Moshe in his concluding words to the people
of Israel in this week’s teaching: “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity,
death and adversity…I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse.
Choose life – if you and your offspring would live – by loving the Lord your God,
heeding God’s commands, and holding fast to God.” Over the month of Tishrei
ahead, we will be guided by the prayers and Torah readings selected by the rabbis to
put our lives back in balance, to choose life. The highlight of this month, toward which
we have been working this month of Elul, are the Ten Days of Repentance between
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

One of the most stirring prayers that is recited on both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
“U’nataneh Tokef” implores us to acclaim the awesome power of these days. Its
language mirrors the dichotomies that are found in Moses’ teaching about life and
death. The poet writes, “On Rosh Hashana it is written, and Yom Kippur it is sealed.
How many shall leave this world and how many shall be born into it, who shall live and
who shall die…” We all know that each year there are those who will be born and
those who will die; just as our year to be born arrived so too will the year of our death.
We all know this has been one of the most difficult years for the Jewish people in our
lifetime. Yet, most of us find it difficult to believe that an interventionist God programs
our death to occur in a specific way at a specific time. What might it mean “it is
written, it is sealed, who shall live and who shall die? Is it in God’s hands as this
poem declares, or in ours, as Moses indicates?

We can read U’nataneh Tokef not as contradicting Moses’ teaching, but actually
reflecting it. The prayer continues, “but repentance, prayer and righteous giving annul
the severity of the decree.” Since death is inevitable for each of us, both Moses and
the author of U’nataneh Tokef seem to be teaching something else: choose a good
life of blessing. Every year, the pressures we face often lead us to lose sight of our
higher self, our sense of purpose, our way of connecting and helping. This last very
difficult year has challenged us like none before, thrown us topsy turvy. The days
ahead give us the opportunity to change the balance. Repentance requires us to
repair internal wounds and external relationships; prayer focuses us on our inner
being and ultimate goals; righteous giving ensures that we focus on improving the
world about us. These three things are the essence of choosing a good life of
blessing. We choose how we live. The metaphoric Book of Life opened at this
season is not predictive as to whether one will live through the year, but prescriptive
as to how one should live one’s days ahead. May the words of Moses this Shabbat
open our hearts and minds for the process we undergo in the days between Rosh
Hashana and Yom Kippur, the first ten days of Tishrei, the days of awe and
repentance.

Shabbat Shalom, shanah tovah and tizku l’shanim rabbot!

Rabbi Jeffrey B. Kamins OAM