Shabbat September 28, 2019, Nitzavim, Reading- Deuteronomy 29:9 – 30:20

Nitzavim is an extremely short parasha. It’s only 40 verses in total. Many years it is read as a combined parasha with . This year we read it alone. When read alone, it is a good parasha for those just learning to chant Torah, since several of the aliyot have only 3 verses, which is the minimum for an .

With Nitzavim we are nearing the end of Deuteronomy and is nearing the end of his . His exhortations to the people to follow G-d’s word in the are particularly eloquent and persuasive. The people are reminded of the they agreed to and are enjoined to keep to it. Moses assures them that to do so is within their capabilities, saying “This commandment I command you today is not concealed from you, nor is it far away… This thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart so you can fulfill it.” says that the reason the text says “in your mouth” is to state that the written Torah was accompanied by an oral explanation.

Jewish tradition says that all – including those not yet born and those who will later convert – stood together at Sinai and received the Torah. Verses 29:13 and 29:14 are often cited as source of that belief. They say “Not only with you am I making this covenant and this oath, but with those standing here with us today before G-d and those who are not here with us today.”

The parasha ends with the famous exhortation to “choose life.” The anti-abortion movement has taken that commandment as one of its slogans. In order to do, it has taken the phrase completely out of context and drastically changed the meaning of the Torah verse.In context “choose life” means to choose to live according to the Torah commandments. G-d, through Moses, says that following G-d’s commandments is the way of life and ; violating them is the way of death and curse. Therefore, verses 19-20 tell us, “choose life…to love G-d, listen to G-d’s voice and cleave to G-d. For that is your life…”

Haftarah 61:10 – 63:9 This last of the seven Haftarot of Consolation begins on a note of jubilation: “I will greatly rejoice in G-d, my shall be joyful.” Images of wedding joy abound as the prophet says that the G-d will be as joyful in the people as a bridegroom is in his bride. The language will be familiar from Lecha Dodi.

The boundaries of the text are carefully chosen to both start and end on a note of rejoicing, although in the the verses before and after contain much less positive prophecy, as Isaiah details the punishments awaiting the people for disobeying the law.

In the end of Nitzavim there is the famous line: “Before you I have placed life and death, the blessing and the curse. You must choose life, so that you and your descendants will survive.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) The anti-abortion movement has taken “Choose Life” as one of its slogans, referencing this line, although the Torah does not prohibit abortion. In context it’s clear that “Choosing life” refers to choosing to live by the mitzvot.

The parasha stresses that the mitzvot and the covenant belong to all the people and their descendants, not only to those who are present to hear what Moses says. He says that the covenant is made not only with those here, but with “those not yet with us.” And he stresses that the commandments are accessible and achievable. They are not in heaven or over the sea, but rather “ki karov eleycha hadavar me'od beficha uvilvavcha la'asoto” “This thing is very near, in your mouth and in your heart so that you can do it.”

Next week is Shuvah and there will be a special for that special Shabbat. After the High Holidays, we will go back to the system whereby the haftarah has a thematic or plot connection to the weekly . However, between the Haftarot of Admonition, the Haftarot of Consolation, and special haftarot for holidays, approximately a quarter of the year does not follow that system.