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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
This week, the final Shabbos of 5784, we read parshas Nitzavim and Vayeilech. Nitzavim opens, “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem…, You (Bnei Yisroel) are standing together today…”
Rashi teaches that hayom, this day, was the last day of Moshe’s life. On that day, he assembled the entire nation, men, women and children. They were from all different walks of life, all brought together to initiate them into the covenant of HaShem.
Morah Kahn was one of my eighth grade teachers. I confess, I don’t remember all of her teachings. However, her message on the opening of parshas Nitzavim was so powerful, that decades later it remains with me.
Morah Kahn, a Holocaust survivor, spoke of her Shabbos Nitzavim in a DP camp. She told of a rov who addressed the survivors with soul-stirring words. He began with the words Atem nitzavim. “You are standing here today. Despite all of the pain and suffering, despite the unspeakable horrors we have experienced, we have endured. We have all lost parents, children, siblings, extended family, neighbors and friends. Yet, we are nitzavim, we are standing strong.”
With his voice quivering and tears in his eyes, the rov continued. “The parsha of Ki Savo followed by Nitzavim were part of Moshe’s final message to Klal Yisroel. If so, one could suggest that Nitzavim should begin with the word v’atem…, and you… However, the letter vav is absent.” The gematria, numerical value, of vav is six. With great emotion, he cried out that the missing vav represents the missing six million kedoshim. Now, it is up to the survivors to keep their memories alive and to carry forward the torch of Torah and Yiddishkeit.
This message of hope and optimism can also be gleaned from Rashi’s teaching on the word hayom in the next pasuk. Hayom, although the day grows dark, light shines once again. So too, HaShem will make light for you, and for future generations.
The word nitzavim is rarely used in Tanach. More often, the word omdim is used to describe standing. We know that each word in the Torah is there for a reason. Each word comes with its own teaching. Nitzavim shares a common root with the word matzeiva, a monument, a pillar. No matter what befalls our people, we don’t break. We are resilient and strong. Planted firmly into the ground, like an everlasting monument. Nitzavim connotes permanence, with commitment and conviction.
In my mother’s first book, The Jewish Soul on Fire, written over forty years ago, she writes how we can become living monuments for the lives lost.
“After the Holocaust, we, the survivors (and in a sense, we are all survivors), have a sacred mission to live our lives in a way that through us, those who perished would once again find life. We are not a nation that believes in memorials of stone. Ours is the awesome task of raising sons and daughters who, imbued with faith, will become living memorials for those who are no more.
We must kindle the Sabbath lights, not only for ourselves, but for the millions of mothers who are no longer able to do so. We must study Torah, not only for ourselves, but for those magnificent young men who were cut down in their youth before they could ever finish singing G-d’s songs.
We must pronounce prayers, not only for ourselves, but for the beautiful little children, who with their very last breaths sanctified G-d’s name and pronounced a blessing. In the end, that is the only meaningful memoriam that we can offer a nation…”
This year, we have lived through the Holocaust of October 7. October 7 has changed us. So many who were previously not committed to their Judaism became proud Jews. Atem nitzavim….. We are standing strong with our people. We all want to do something. So many want to learn more about their heritage, their faith, their G-d. To learn about Shabbos, kashrus, and building a Jewish home. For others, it means doing more. More davening, more Tehillim, more learning, more tzedaka. To take on extra mitzvos as a merit for our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel, for those who remain hostage, for the bereaved families, for so many young men and women who have been injured, and for the displaced families.
Parshas Nitzavim is always read on the Shabbos before Rosh HaShanah. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that atem nitzavim hayom, you are standing today refers to Rosh HaShanah, the day we all stand in awe before HaShem. Chodesh Elul is a month of introspection and soul-searching. A time to make a cheshbon hanefesh, an accounting of one’s soul. To sit down and take an inventory of our life. To ask ourselves, what can I improve, what can I fix. What trait can I work on, what mitzva can I elevate.
We may think it’s impossible. We say I can’t do it… I tried… it doesn’t work. We look at the world around us and say that the days are dark… when will HaShem shine that light once again.
The words of the parsha give us much needed hope and encouragement. “For the mitzva (of teshuva) isn’t hidden from you… and it isn’t far away. It is not in the heaven, not across the sea. Rather, it is very close to you…” (Devarim 30:11-14)
Reach out to HaShem. When we connect to Him, we become imbued with emunah and bitachon, and discover strength we never knew we had.
We can do it. One small change can make a big difference. Who knows which mitzva will be the one to tip the scales and bring the blessings of health, prosperity, nachas, peace and harmony to ourselves, our loved ones and all of Am Yisroel.
Shabbat Shalom!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
