United we Stand

Elul 22, 5766

Good Shabbos,

This week communities around the world will be reading the Torah portion called Netzavim, named for the first verse which reads, “You are all standing (netzavim) today before the Almighty, your God: your leaders, your tribal heads, your elders, your judges – every person of Israel.” Moses, on his last day, had gathered the nation to deliver his final message, to review the covenant between which God had offered and we accepted. In kabbalistic writings, the word today, hayom, in the Torah always refers to the day, Rosh HaShanah. In fact, this portion of the Torah always coincides with the Shabbos before Rosh HaShanah and, in a sense, is alluding to our impending approach to the coming day of judgment. It is before the Almighty that we, as a nation in utter unity, present ourselves to our Creator for ultimate accounting. There’s an apparent contradiction of sorts in our sentiment towards this holy day of reckoning. Rosh HaShanah is, after all, the day of judgement, then followed 10 days later by the day of atonement, and yet the tone of the day is jubilant – there’s no mention of confession, guilt, sin, there’s no heaviness to the service, the liturgy is full of the Almighty and Israel’s praise, the meals are festive and lavish – have we forgotten this is the day of reckoning? Which books are opened? That here we confront our own accountability and the unspeakable finitude of life itself?

All these are true, and they are underlying themes of the day which, however, are generally addressed in preparation for Rosh HaShanah and immediately following until Yom Kippur. Yet the day itself, one where the entire nation presents itself for judgment, bespeaks a far greater message. We stand as one with the Almighty in fulfilling His will and bringing the world to its completion. This is the mission we accepted, and, more importantly, for which we were accepted. Yes, we have fallen short, and yes, there is much to repair. But the covenant itself, the mission and intimate partnership with God, is tremendous cause for celebration. It is precisely at the time of reckoning, when we, in pristine oneness, present ourselves to Him - with no doubt whatsoever that the ultimate covenant would ever, ever be called into question – for the greatest privilege of all and thorough recognition of our service and raison-d’etre. And there’s one more plus – it’s a family business where love is the undisputed champion and never compromised. You could hear all of this even in the melodies especially reserved for the day.

It is said the biggest blow to all the metaphysical forces which stand contrary to our spiritual perfection - those which on the one hand create for us free-will and on the other hand attempts to subpoena our every move in the Heavenly tribunal – is the very fact that we walk into the courtroom on our own volition. In perfect unity and appreciation of what judgment really means. The forest is greater than the trees. The Jewish people rises well above its simple, fallible, and ultimately forgivable humanity.

Wishing you good Shabbos,

Rabbi Lynn