RAbino Yerahmiel Barylka
Rav Moshe Avigdor Amiel, once Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, explained that there are two types of national tragedies. The first is when a nation loses the characteristics of nationality, its land, state and government. The second is when a nation loses pride in its heritage; when you lose faith in your ability to create as a people: when you lose the will to live.
The first Tojejá –admonishment- by Parashat Bejukotay, speaks of national collapse. The land and the state would be lost. People would be exiled. And so the warnings are all in plural, addressed to all of Israel as a whole. They predict the destruction of the city and the soil, that the land will be desolate, unplowed, unplanted, its people exiled from it.
The second admonition –Tojejá- read last week, speaks of the moral disintegration of the Jewish people and the devastation of their soul. The warnings are worded in singular form. And they emphasize the loss of value and the will to live. “You will have no faith in your existence,” she declares. But after the destruction of the Second Temple, only a small part of our people retained hope. Many were ready to give up completely and live a life of continuous mourning for the Temple, State, land and people.
This week's Torah portion, Nitzavim, which is one of Moshe's final speeches (a coda to an epic poem and a blessing will follow), ends with the poignant call that has come to define the Jewish character and especially at this time of year: choosing life is the answer more complete to the previous parsha and is read every year before Rosh Hashanah.
Moshe calls us to do teshuvah, to return to God, to our people, to our land and calls us to love the Creator with our hearts, with all our soul, so that we may live” (30:6).
Moshe he makes it clear that he is speaking across the generations, addressing every individual, from the leaders to the least qualified strata of society, men, women and children, and even those who are not yet present to hear him speak. He insists that this change of mind is possible and that we do not need intermediaries to achieve it. In the words of the Torah: “For this commandment that I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who will ascend for us into heaven, and bring it to us, and make it heard for us, that we may do it? Nor is it on the other side of the sea, that you should say: Who will pass over the sea for us, that he may bring it to us and make it heard for us, so that we may do it? Because the word is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can fulfill it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil” (30: 11-15).
Moshe affirms that we are capable of change. He insists that we are capable of opening our hearts, of choosing life and goodness, no matter how far we have strayed from our goal: “Even if your exiles were in the farthest parts under the sky, from there will collect .A. your God, and will take you from there” (30:4).
Moshe He is being the ultimate spiritual teacher here at the end of his teaching. He is telling us that our self-limiting beliefs prevent us from fully participating in the unfolding of creation. It is not in the sky, nor on the other side of the sea, it is close to you, on your own lips and in your own heart, you can do it!
We can feel Moshe's sense of urgency as he exhorts us, his people, to enter the Promised Land, the land of human fulfillment. We have a noble task to perform, to expand our sense of the possible. We must do teshuva – penance and repentance to return to good – and align our beliefs about ourselves with our true and magnificent potential. We must choose life and vitality so that, as Moshe says, we and our descendants can live long in the good land that the Creator has granted us.
The vital energy that animates all creation also animates us. One day that energy will take each of us out of our individuality and our essence will meet and blend with the earth and the sky. Yes, it is a challenging time. We can list the reasons for despair. On the other hand, when have times not been challenging? No matter, Moshe says, the potential for change is still in our hands.
Moshe has a particular audience for his words as he enters the New Year: “I have given you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose life!
In times of pandemic, the dilemma has only one answer, acting actively to be enrolled in the Book of Life.
Zochreinu lechaim, remember us for life, king who desires life and enroll us in the Book of Life, for you, God of life.