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