Well no sooner
than the school year starts and the Jewish Holidays are upon us. With kids in
day school, the holidays mean a few days of school and a few days off from
school between now and the middle of October. With a daughter in Grade 12 (12th
grade if you speak American), we have entered a new realm of anxiety. Our
daughter discovered it late last week. We all know it as the future. Yes, late
last week, it dawned on our daughter that she actually had to deal with and
make plans for the future. She knows that she has to apply to colleges and
universities, she wants to take a gap year in Israel, so she needs to decide on
a program that fits her, her interests and the type of learning she wants to
engage in. If she is planning on going to university/college in the United
States she has to take standardized tests: SAT’s or ACT’s. Late last week, she
was overtired, she was stressed about a biology assignment and now the subject
of standardized tests came up. She became very upset, angry and didn’t want to
listen to anyone or any advice. She knew it all, didn’t like any of the choices
and at that moment decided that the only place she was going to the next four
years was our basement. A few days later
she actually had a good night’s sleep. That afternoon, a completely different
daughter peeked her head outside and saw that I was waking up from a nap. She wanted
to talk. She wanted to talk about her future. She wanted to discuss a strategy
of how to determine which Israel program she wants to go on. She wanted to
discuss colleges and universities in the U.S. or Canada. She wanted to discuss
standardized tests. I suggested that we limit the discussion to the Province of
Ontario, the Northeast United States where there is a vibrant Jewish student
population. We talked. She listened as did I. I assume there was anxiety but
suddenly it didn’t cause paralysis; instead she seemed excited about the
future.
This Shabbat,
the Shabbat between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, is known as Shabbat Shuva, The
Shabbat of Return. We read from Parshat Ha’Azinu. The Parsha is poetry, a song that God had
commanded Moshe to compose in the previous Parsha, VaYeleich. Composing this
song was the final deed that God commanded Moshe. The song is the final
prophecy that God told Moshe in the previous Parsha, VaYeilech. As a song, it is not contain the most
pleasant of lyrics, and it is not particular uplifting or inspiration. The song
does not offer such an optimistic future.
Rather, Moshe invokes Heaven and Earth to offer testimony to God’s
prophecy and future punishment against his people. Throughout Sefer Devarim, Deuteronomy, Moshe
has taught the law, and inspired Bnai Yisroel to choose fidelity to God and
God’s Torah. Choosing to follow would
result in a reward. Choosing not to follow would result in a punishment. Now,
during the final moments of Moshe Rabeinu’s life, the song suggests neither
choice nor the results of that choice. Instead we are told that we will choose
badly and that we will be punished.
There is nothing explicit within the song that suggests or even offers a
means by which we are able to do Tshuva (repent) and ultimately return to God.
While intellectually, Moshe has taught that concept to Bnai Yisroel; here in
the song that possibility is not explicit.
However when the
song is complete, Moshe speaks his word to Bnai Yisroel. His words offer a
sense of hope, a sense of inspiration. He reminds Bnai Yisroel that even when
they have grown distant from God, even though the resulting punishment will be
brutal; there is still a measure of hope, hope for the next generation. SImu
Levavchem L’Chol Hadvarim Asher Anochi Mei’id Bachem Hayom, Asher T’Tzavoom et Bnaichem Lishmor La’Asot
et Kol Divrei HaTorah Ha’Zot - Apply your hearts to all the words that I
Testify against you today, with which you are to instruct your children, to be
careful to perform all the words of this Torah. Ki Lo
Davar Reik Hu Mikem Ki Hu Chayeichem Uvadavar HaZeh Ta’Arichu Yamim – for it is not an empty thing for you, for it
is your life, and through this matter shall you prolong your days on the Land
to which you cross the Jordan to possess it. In Moshe’s final moments, he
reminds us that the key to our survival is to teach Torah to our children. Yes,
according to the song, we will grow distant from God, yes we will engage in
idolatry. Yes we will be punishment. However there will always be hope for the
next generation if they are educated in such a manner that when it comes time
for them to make a choice; they choose wisely, they choose God’s Torah. Moshe reminds his people that the Torah is not
empty. Rashi reminds us that if we find Torah to be empty and unsatisfying then
the fault lies with us, Mikem.
While
the conversation with my daughter lasted only about 30 minutes. It seemed
positive or at least it will be positive until the anxiety becomes overwhelming
again. For now at least, for the past
few days, she doesn’t seem to be dreading the future. No she doesn’t know
specifically which program for her gap year, no she hasn’t been accepted nor
has she even applied to colleges and universities. In fact, she sat down and
began looking at the ACT examination, and began preparing for that standardized
exam. However, she understands that there are things that she has to do, things
she has to find out about, information she needs to obtain and a strategy that
she needs to follow in order to achieve her five year future. She understand
that if she engages in this process with an open heart and positive attitude;
then her future won’t be such an empty thing.
Gmar Chatima Tova – May we all be sealed in the Book of Life,
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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