The MHA/FYOS was abuzz this week in preparation for Rosh
HaShana! The Boys and Girls High Schools each held a day of learning
dedicated to Rosh HaShana topics. Elementary students learned special
tefilot, songs and lessons. The bulletin boards and classrooms were
decorated. The Early Childhood students made Rosh HaShana cards for the
older members of our community. The Kollel MiTzion had its inaugural
program. Each element of the school did its part to prepare for Rosh
HaShana.
On Thursday night, I had the honor of speaking at the Kollel
MiTzion night of learning. I presented the following idea which relates to
this theme of each person doing his or her part.
This week’s parsha, Nitzavim,
describes Moshe’s inducting b'nei Yisrael into a covenant with Hashem.
Moshe Rabbenu begins, “You, all, are standing (nitzavim) here today
before the Lord your God. Your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your
officers, even all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and thy
stranger that is in the midst of thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the
drawer of thy water.”
In the course of developing a very interesting theory about the
uniqueness of this covenant, Ohr HaChayyim asks two questions on the text of
Moshe Rabbenu’s announcement. First, when describing b'nei Yisrael
standing in front of Hashem, why does Moshe use the word, nitzavim, as opposed to the
more common word, omdim?
Second, why does Moshe enumerate each segment of the Jewish People – heads,
tribes, elders, officers, etc.?
Ohr HaChayyim begins by defining the word nitzavim more precisely. He explains that
the word means standing in the sense of an appointment. Americans have a
similar usage for the word “stand”. Americans say that groomsmen “stand”
for the groom. This use of “stand” implies an appointment or a responsibility.
Moshe uses “stand” in this same sense – he is conveying to b'nei Yisrael that
their relationship to this covenant is not casual or even volitional – it is an
appointment to a responsibility. Building on this definition, Ohr
HaChayyim explains that Moshe Rabbenu details each segment of the society in
order to convey that each member of b'nei Yisrael is appointed to the
responsibility of fulfilling the covenant at his or her station in life –
wherever that may be. If the person is a leader – he should fulfill the
covenant by leading. If he is an elder, he should fulfill the covenant as
an elder of the society. If the person is a water-drawer, he should
fulfill the covenant in that manner. Each person is responsible to
fulfill the covenant with Hashem from the perspective of his or her role in
society.
Ohr HaChayyim is describing an orientation to the Torah and to mitzvot. It is incumbent upon each of us to ask ourselves what our role
is in the community and in K’lal Yisrael and to view the fulfillment of that
role as an appointment to a task. As we enter Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur
and the Ten Days of Repentance, may we successfully identify our role and renew
our commitment to fulfilling our appointment.
Shana Tova u’Metuka – A Happy and Sweet New Year
Shana Tova u’Metuka – A Happy and Sweet New Year
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