Parshas Nitzavim And Rosh Hashanah - Restart Your Engines

~Thoughts on the Parsha~
Parshas Nitzavim

And

Rosh Hashanah

Restart Your Engines

By: Daniel Listhaus

וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד הֹ' אֱלֹקיךָ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְקֹלוֹ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשֶׁךָ

כִּי הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם לֹא נִפְלֵאת הִוא מִמְּךָ וְלֹא רְחֹקָה הִוא : לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא לֵאמֹר מִי יַעֲלֶה לָּנוּ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְיִקָּחֶהָ לָּנוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה : וְלֹא מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִוא לֵאמֹר מִי יַעֲבָר לָנוּ אֶל עֵבֶר הַיָּם וְיִקָּחֶהָ לָּנוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה : כִּי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ

“And you will return unto Hashem, your G-d, and listen to His voice, according to everything that command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and all your soul.”

“For this commandment, which I command you today, is not hidden from you and is not distant. It is not in the heavens, for you to say, 'Who can ascend to the heavens for us and take it for us, and let us hear it, so that we can perform it?' Nor is it across the sea, for you to say, 'Who can cross to the other side of the sea for us and take it for us, and let us hear it, so that we can perform it?' Rather, the matter is very near to to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to perform it.”

-Nitzavim 30:2;11-14

In this passuk (verse) referring to returning to listening to Hashem, the Torah peculiarly writes that we should return until (“ad”) Hashem, instead of writing that we must return to (“el”) Hashem...” Similarly, the passuk in Hoshea¹ says, “Return, Yisroel, until Hashem your G-d.” The Gemara² teaches that we see from this passuk that teshuvah (repentance) reaches all the way until the Kisei HaKavod (Hashem's Throne of Glory).³ The Orchos Tzadikkim⁴ further demonstrates this from the following fascinating account:⁵

When Moshe ascended to the first firmament he found classes of angels. They opened a Torah scroll before him, read about the first day of Creation, discontinued, and began speaking in praise of Torah. When he ascended to the second level, he found clusters of angels who were reading about the second day of Creation. They then paused, and began speaking in praise of Torah and B'nei Yisroel. When he ascended to the third firmament he found angels and troops, who were reading about the third day of Creation. They then finished, and began speaking in praise of Yerushalayim. When he ascended to the fourth firmament, he found mighty angels, who were reading about the fourth day of Creation. They stopped, and began speaking in praise of Moshiach. When he ascended to the fifth firmament he found camps and camps of angels who were reading about the fifth day of Creation. They discontinued, and began speaking about the anguish of Gehenom. When he ascended to the sixth firmament he found angels who were reading about the sixth day of Creation. They finished, and began to speak about Gan Eden, and to implore Hashem to place the portion of the Jews who follow the Torah and mitzvos in it. When he ascended to the seventh firmament he found Ofanim, Serafim, Galgalim, angels of mercy, angels of loving kindness, and angels of tremble and fear. Immediately Moshe grabbed the Kisei HaKavod. They read about the seventh day of Creation: “Vayechulu...”⁶ (And He completed...). They then stopped and started speaking in praise of teshuva.

The Gemara⁷ mentions seven things which preceded the world: Torah, teshuva, Gan Eden, Gehenom, the Kisei Hakavod, the Beis Hamikdash, and the name of Moshiach. It is no coincidence that this list closely resembles the things which Moshe witnessed being praised by the angels on the various levels of the Heavens. However, we could only appreciate the uniqueness of these seven concepts if we first understand what the point of the world is.

Rashi⁸ writes that the world was created for B'nei Yisroel and the Torah. The sole purpose of this world is for us to follow the path of the Torah and listen to the word of Hashem. With this in mind, we must realize that because Hashem created the world for this purpose, it must be the perfect place to achieve this goal. Every single system, creature, and object created during the seven days of Beraishis (creation) are only for the benefit of man to achieve a close relationship with Hashem. These seven things which were created before the world are the most essential parts to the overall structure, and therefore had to be in place before anything else. Torah is the blueprint and instruction manual of the world. Gehenom, Gan Eden, and the Kisei Hakavod are key elements of the punishment-reward system. The Beis Hamikdash and Moshiach are the place and time we could serve Hashem in the perfect setting. Teshuva is also absolutely necessary because without it, man would not be able to exist for more than a generation.

Of the seven items, teshuva is the most unique. The other six things are necessary because of man. However, the need for teshuva is deeper than that. Teshuva is necessary is order for man to be able to change his ways. In other words, if we were to understand when we say the purpose of the world is for man to mean exactly that and nothing more, then teshuva should not be required for the system. Teshuva may be necessary for people not to die immediately upon sinning, however it does not seem as vital as the other six items created before Creation. The gift of being able to get a second chance seems like it should be considered a bonus. After all, if we have committed horrible sins against Hashem, why should we be able to erase that from the record?

It must be that included in when we say that the point of the world is for man, is the necessity for man to be able to do teshuva. Hashem knows that we are not perfect and that everyone does aveiros (sins). Part of our task in this world is to recognize our mistakes, admit to them, and work on avoiding them in the future. This is not merely a bonus, it is part of the reason we are here.

We all know how hard it is to work up a reputation, and how easy it is to lose it. One might therefore think that when it comes to doing teshuva, the process must be overly difficult and hard to achieve. Yet, as complex as the whole concept of teshuva is to understand, it seems from the Torah that it is actually extremely easy to accomplish. The passukim⁹ in this week's parsha say, “For this commandment, which I command you today, is not hidden from you and is not distant. It is not in the heavens...nor is it across the sea.... Rather, the matter is very near to to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to perform it.” The Ramban¹⁰ explains that these passukim are referring to the mitzva of doing teshuva. After all, there is nothing easier than doing teshuva – it is not something we have to travel for or spend money on, it is merely something we must think and feel.

The Medrash¹¹ writes that Shlomo Hamelech said seven things about a lazy person, but what Moshe said was greater than all of them. Shlomo Hamelech relates in Mishlei¹² the extent that laziness could take control over a person. One tells the lazy person, “Your rebbe (teacher) is in your state. Get up so you could learn with him.” He responds, “Perhaps there is a lion on the path. How could I take any chances?” The man then comes back and says, “He is in your town! Get up so you could go to him.” The lazy man again retorts, “Perhaps there is a lion right here in the streets.” The friend comes back later and says, “Your rebbe is staying right next door!” The lazy man counters, “Perhaps the lion is right outside.” The friend comes back later and says, “He is is staying in this building.” The lazy man just rolls his eyes and says back, “If I get up to go to him, I will probably find his door locked.” The friend responds, “The door is open!” The lazy man, now trapped in a corner, replies, “Either way I am tired and just want to sleep some more.”

We are all too familiar with the rationalizations that come to mind when we are feeling lazy. However, when it comes to teshuva there is no excuse. It is all in “your mouth and in your heart”. As the Ramban¹³ writes. “All that is required is for us to admit our sins with our mouth and accept upon ourselves in our hearts to not do them in the future.” At any time, we are able to stop and start anew. All we have to do is want to change – admit to what was done and promise to try our hardest to discontinue the sins of our past.

Teshuva is something which is built into the bloodstream of the world. It is essential to the world because it is essential for mankind. The world is our arena where we work on ourselves and become closer to Hashem. Hashem, of course, knows that man will sin. However, for the one who is willing to change, there is still hope. Nothing keeps us from doing teshuva. There are no lions or thieves on the road, nor locked doors in our way that keep us from restarting our engines. All we have to do is want to become closer to Hashem by admitting our mistakes and trying to stay away from them in the future, and we are back on track with a growing relationship with Hashem.

Rosh Hashna is a time of internalizing that which is read and praised on the highest level of shamayim – recognizing Hashem as King of the world¹⁴ and spending time doing teshuva. It is the day the world was created for man's sake to become close to Hashem and recognize Him as King. This is our responsibility as humans, and therefore the purpose of the world.

We are now living in a time which sounds like a re-run of the story of yetziyas Mitzrayim. The future will look back at these days and read in their history books how Hashem showed Himself publicly and brought earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, and terror to the world while the Pharoahs kept repeating, “Who is Hashem that I should listen to His voice...?”¹⁵ Now more than ever it is difficult to firmly believe in Hashem's Kingship over the world. We have the technology to control things around the globe with only a tap on the phone. However, for those who keep their emunah and bitachon in Hashem, the story will end the same way as it did thousands of years ago. There will soon be miracles as great as Krias Yam Suf (the splitting of the sea), and a time when the shechinas Hashem returns to B'nei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel.

May Hashem help us maximize this period of Dirshu Hashem Behimatzo and re-accept us as His children and servants while we re-accept Him as our Father and King.

1Hoshea 14:2

2Yoma 86a-b

3See also S'forno 30:2

4Sha'ar HaTeshuva

5Translation based on Feldheim's English Orchos Tzadikkim

6Beraishis 2:1

7Pesachim 54a

8Beraishis 1:1

9Devarim 30:11-14

10Devarim 30:11. See also Kli Yakar in his second approach to this passuk.

11Devarim Rabbah 8:6 (on this passuk [30:11])

12Mishlei 26:13 (twice) , 22:13, 26:14, 6:9, 26:15, and 20:4

13Devarim 30:11. See also Kli Yakar (30:11) and S'forno (30:14)

14As Shabbos.is all about; realizing that Hashem is the creator and controller of the world.

15Shemos 5:2

Photo Credit: http://www.sevacall.com/blog/2013/05/s/auto-repair/auto-key-wont-turn-in-ignition/