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NITZAVIM/VAYELECH

25th Elul 5770 ~ 4th September 2010

Shabbat begins in London at 19.28 and ends at 20.29

By Reli Israeli

In the beginning of parashat Nitzavim, Moshe approaches all of Israel, from the most respected person to the simplest person among the people of Israel: “You stand this day, all of you, before the Lord your God, your tribal heads, your elders and your officials, all the men of Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from  woodchopper to waterdrawer, for you to pass into the covenant of the Lord your God...” (Deuteronomy 29: 9-11) The detailed manner in which Moshe chooses to describe who exactly he is addressing might suggest that he wants to take the opportunity to emphasize the unity of the people of Israel. Moshe’s strong message is clear, everyone, without exception, is standing before God, without mediators or special priests, regardless of class, social status or views.

Nitzavim is one of the parashot read before Rosh Hashanah, and both Nitzavim and the Jewish New Year, share a central value in Judaism – unity. Rosh Hashanah is a day where we all stand before God and take account for our actions, but we do not stand alone, we are gathered together, the same way our ancestors stood in front of Moshe and were reminded by him about the covenant with God. Rambam suggests that we should not only feel united, we should also feel responsible for one another and for the fate of this world: “…Every person should view himself all year as if he were half innocent and half guilty. And that is the way he should look at the world as well, as if it were half innocent and half guilty. If he would do just one sin, he would thereby tip both himself and the entire world towards the "guilty" side, and cause it great destruction. And If he would do just one Mitzvah, he would tip both himself and the entire world towards the "innocent" side and cause for himself and for them salvation, as it says "The Righteous Person is the Foundation of the World" - because his being righteous tipped the world for good, and saved it." (Hilchot Teshuvah 3:4)

Nitzavim, Rosh Hashanah and this piece by Rambam, are a good reminder of every individual’s important role as part of the Jewish people and of this world - each of us might feel helpless at times in light of different crises and moral issues occurring daily in so many places in our close environment and around the world . Maybe during this Rosh Hashanah, between the different services and times of self reflection, we should take a minute to look at the people standing beside us and feel the communal responsibility that lies on our shoulders and aim to do our best to become better. According to Rambam’s approach, this will certainly have a good influence on the world in which we live.

Reli Israeli is the immediate past JAFI Shlicha to the UK Masorti Movement


Torah Sparks

By Rabbi Joyce Newmark

Surely this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-13)

  1. Rava said, “Set fixed times for Torah, as Avdimi bar Hana bar Dosi said, Why is it written, “It is not in the heavens... it is not beyond the sea.” “It is not in the heavens” – if it would be in heaven you would be obliged to go up after it. “It is not beyond the sea” – if it would be beyond the sea you would be obliged to cross it in pursuit. Talmud Eruvin 54b-55a
     

  2. Every Jew is required to study Torah, whether poor or rich, healthy or ailing, young or old and feeble. Even a man so poor that he is maintained by charity or goes begging from door to door, as also a man with a wife and children to support, is under the obligation to set aside a definite period during the day and night for the study of the Torah... Until what period in life is one obligated to study Torah? Until the day of one’s death. Rambam [Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, 1135-1209, Spain and Egypt] Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah, 1:8,10
     

  3. [The prophet] Elijah, ever mentioned on good occasions, said: Once, as I was walking on the road, a man who met me mocked and reviled me. I asked him, “My son, since you have refused to learn Torah, what will you say on the Day of Judgment?” He replied, “I have an answer: Understanding, knowledge, and spirit were not given me from Heaven [so how could I study Torah]?” I said, “My son, what is your work?” He replied, “I am a trapper of fowls and fish.” I asked, “Who gave you knowledge and spirit to take flax, spin it into cords, weave the cords into nets, use the nets to trap fish and fowls, and sell them?” He replied, “Understanding and knowledge [to do my work] were given me from Heaven.” I said, “To take flax, spin it into cords, weave cords into nets, and use nets to trap fish and fowls, understanding and knowledge were given to you from Heaven. But do you suppose that, for words of Torah, about which it is written, ‘The thing is very close to you’ (30:14), understanding and knowledge were not given to you?” Tanhuma, Va-Yeilekh, 2
     

  4. Hillel said: Do not say, “I shall study when I have leisure.” Perhaps you will never have leisure. Pirkei Avot 2:4
     

  5. These are the things whose fruits a person eats in this world while the capital remains for him in the world to come: honouring one’s parents, the practice of loving-kindness, hospitality to strangers, and making peace between a person and his neighbour. And the study of Torah surpasses them all. Mishnah Peah 1:1

Sparks for Discussion

How would you define Torah study? What texts and topics are included within “Torah”? Our commentators insist that there are no excuses for neglecting Torah study. Do you agree? How might you respond to someone who claims that he would like to study Torah, but it just isn’t possible? What is the goal of Torah study? Why do you think the Rabbis consider Torah study the preeminent mitzvah?

From: United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism. More can be found on their website http://www.uscj.org


The Assembly of Masorti Synagogues wish you a good, happy and peaceful New Year.


To view the archive of past 'Reflections' click here


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