Our Thoughts

 
BITESIZE TORAH – RABBI DANIEL EPSTEIN
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Dear Friends,
 
BringThemHome – Day 356
 
We have arrived.
 
The last Shabbat of the year. Our last chance to show that Shabbat matters to us in a myriad of ways; and such a busy Shabbat! We hope you can join us!
 
Why is it that, with deadlines approaching – Rosh Hashanah is just under a week away – we seem to focus more on what is urgent, rather than on what is important?
 
Shabbat is one of those opportunities to appreciate the bigger picture, with time to reflect; away from a busy week.
 
This week’s parashiyot – Nitsavim & Vayeilech – in several places, may give us further insights that we hope will provide fundamental tools to use in our lives.
 
Firstly, the opening words are contextual:
 
“You stand this day, all of you, before your God — your tribal heads, your elders, and your officials, every householder in Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to water-drawer” (Deut. 29:9-10)
 
Why would they NOT be standing? What had happened?
 
The answer is: last week’s curses were enumerated. It was a shocking experience and would, literally, have knocked the wind out of the Children of Israel.

The fact that they are still standing is Moses’ reassurance to them that they will be able to withstand challenges in the future.
 
And, later in the chapter, another insightful message:
 
“Concealed acts concern our God; but with overt acts, it is for us and our children ever to apply all the provisions of this Teaching.” (ibid. v28)
 
In the Torah, the words “for us and our children” have dots written over them as a Sinaitic tradition:
 

הַנִּ֨סְתָּרֹ֔ת לַה׳ אֱלֹקֵ֑ינוּ וְהַנִּגְלֹ֞ת לָ֤ׄנׄוּׄ וּׄלְׄבָׄנֵ֙ׄיׄנׄוּ֙ׄ עַׄד־עוֹלָ֔ם לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֶת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

 
Rashi explains that the dots are there to tell us that even if we had committed transgressions in the past, God is withholding any judgement until we have had time to figure out how to rectify our actions and do the repentance necessary to earn forgiveness.
 
In short, it may seem that there is URGENCY to repentance.
 
But it is much more important to ascribe IMPORTANCE to repentance.
 
It is a process, like any other, that requires acknowledgement, admission, resoluteness and Divine guidance.
 
This year, more than any other in living memory, we have been tested in ways we were not expecting, but we have found ourselves more resilient than we thought possible.
 
Enjoy this final shabbat of the year and focus on what is really important in our lives – family, friends, health, kindness and respect to others.
 
This is the best way to prepare for the majesty of Rosh Hashanah in the days ahead.
 
Shabbat shalom to us all and Shana Tova

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