Parashat Nitzavim / Va-Yelech

by Rabbi Pete Tobias of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

Summary

The list of instructions is now complete, the consequences of observing or not them have been exhaustively (and graphically!) listed (if you want to check what these are, then take a look at chapter 28 of Deuteronomy and be prepared to be horrified!). Now it’s time for the Israelites to make the commitment. The whole of the Book of Deuteronomy is a form of contract between God and the people. Moses has been setting out the conditions and tells the people that they have a choice – observe the laws and they will live; reject them and they will die. Not too hard a choice…

Commentary

For me, there are two significant sections in this joint portion. First of all, Moses tells the people in verse 15 of chapter 29 that this covenant is being made not just with all the people who are there that day in the wilderness on the borders of the Promised Land (and he has already indicated that this covenant applies to all of them – old and young, rich and poor). It’s also being made with ‘those who are not here with us this day.’ It it’s a covenant between God and all generations of Jews throughout the ages – including Liberal Jews at the beginning of the 21st century.

The second significant verse is, for me, the most uplifting and inspiring verse in the whole of the Torah. In chapter 30, Moses continues to outline the nature of the covenant that is being made. He explains that what is required of the Israelites is not too difficult for them or too remote from them. ‘Lo va-shamayim hi’ he says. ‘It is not in the heavens that you might say 'Who will go up into the heavens and fetch it for us and teach it to us, that we might do it?' And it is not across the sea that you might say 'Who will go across the sea and fetch it for us and teach it to us, that we might do it?'’ (30:11-13)

God’s instructions are not meant to be confusing or complicated. In the end, Moses is telling us, they are obvious. The correct way to behave, the right way to treat one another and our world, the just and compassionate society that humankind should construct for itself is really very simple. The book of Deuteronomy, the entire Torah – indeed, the whole project that we call Judaism – is really quite straightforward. As the final verse of this section tells us: ‘This thing is very close to you: it is on your lips and in your hearts that you might do it.’ (30:14).

Put these two sections together, as Liberal Jewish tradition does on Yom Kippur morning where they are combined to offer a powerful message to the congregation that is present on that awesome day (and, indeed, those who are not there with us that day) and the whole essence of Judaism is encapsulated. All of us are part of the covenant with God, and each of us has a responsibility to do our part to bring God’s will into the world. That is what religion is all about – any religion. Over the centuries, it would seem, religion has turned itself into something complex and sophisticated, filled with archaic rituals and arcane beliefs that seem to have no place in our modern society. Because of this, many turn away from religion, seeing it as something irrelevant in our modern age or – worse – something that threatens progress and peace.

But the religion of Judaism – and, indeed, any religion that is worthy of the name, has at its heart that simple yet crucial venture: to move humankind forwards to an era of harmony and peace. ‘This is not too difficult for us, nor is it too remote…. it is very close to us: on our lips and in our hearts that we might do it.’

Rabbi Pete Tobias

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

Rabbi Pete Tobias can be heard on BBC Radio 2 ‘Good Morning Sunday’ with Aled Jones on October 1st between 7.30 and 8.00 am