There are two refrains that I hear quite often as summer
draws to an end and the school year appear imminently on the horizon. “The
Holidays are early this year!” or “The Holidays are late this year!” Usually my
response is to remind the individual that Rosh HaShanah always begins on time –
the first of Tishrei. Well this year I
stand corrected. The Jewish Holidays are early; like two days removed from
Labor Day Early. The Holidays are so early
this year that the first day of school this year is before Labor Day. This means is that that is an awful lot of
chaos in our home. Getting kids their school supplies, their uniforms, shoes
for the holidays, making sure that they have clothing appropriate for the
Holidays that are comfortable for the late summer, and then of course, food
shopping and the requisite cooking. I am tired just thinking about it and yes,
there is still work to do on sermons. Getting
children ready for another school year is always a bit chaotic; add the fact
that the High Holidays coincide with the beginning of school and it seems so
easy to forget the point of all this chaos and tumult.
In this week’s double Parsha, Parsha Nitzavim/VaYeilech,
Moshe gathers all the people around him one last time. He reminds them that
they are a people with a covenant, warns them against idolatry, explains that
they descendants will be punished with exile but will eventually return to the
Eretz Canaan, and pleads with them to always keep the teachings of the Torah
near to them wherever they and their descendants go. Moshe explains that his death is days away.
He completes writing his Sefer Torah, presents it to the Kohanim for
safe-keeping. He passes all pertinent information and “state secrets” to
Joshua, his successor. Moshe instructs the Kohanim to read the Torah to a
gathering of the entire nation every seven years. Then God tells Moshe what will
befall the people after his death and after they enter Eretz Canaan. Moshe listens to God’s words and is
instructed to put these words of prophecy into the format of poetry or a song.
As the text ties up the “loose knots”, as Moshe makes the final
preparations for his death; there seems to be a foreboding sense that Moshe’s
final moments may not be so pleasant and peaceful and the future of the people
may not be so bright after all. Moshe
says a lot of rather discouraging things on his “deathbed”. He explains that later generations will fail
to heed the Torah and they will be exiled. He explains that sad things will
happen. He explains that bad things will happen. Moshe does not offer some saccharine type of
hope that suggests not worrying and everything will be OK. Rather Moshe offers
a type of hope that empowers each and every individual, empowers each and every
generation and, just as importantly Moshe tells them the secret to survival. HaMitzvah HaZot Asher Anochi M’Tzavcha
HaYom For this commandment that I
command you today Lo Nifleit Hee
Mimcha It is not hidden from you V’Lo
Rechoka Hee and it is not distant.
Lo Bashamayim Hee It is not in the heavens… Ki Karov Eilecha HaDavar Me’od B’Ficha U’Vilvavcha
La’Asoto Rather the matter (the word) is very near to you – in your mouth and
your heart – perform it (Deut. 30:11-14). Moshe secret was that Torah is
not inaccessible. Anyone can do it. You just have to learn it and then do it.
Moshe reminded those who were listening that his words, his teachings are not
beyond anyone’s capacity. Sforno, the
great Renaissance Rabbi and Commentator explains that Teshuva, repentance, and
Torah is within the individual’s and the community’s capacity; there is no need for a prophet to bring
heavenly messages if the community behaves the way it is supposed to behave. The
only thing that the community needs is someone to teach the community what to
do and how to do it. Then the community will be informed enough as to how to
behave appropriately. Moshe taught them that Torah was portable. It could go
anywhere in the world as long as there was someone to learn it and teach it.
Yes, the Holidays come early this year. Yes the school year
is about to begin and yes indeed, this makes for a lot of chaos. But amid this
chaos, we understand the Torah is close by. We know, or perhaps we need to be
reminded that amid this chaos we are given the opportunity to continue
learning, to spiritually prepare for holidays as well as physically prepare. As chaotic as it seems, Moshe’s re-assuring
words that the Torah is designed to be accessible to everyone suggests
something even more profound; that amid the chaos, God is just as accessible.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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