Making sense of the sedra: Nitzavim Vayeilech
Embracing the means to an end
Our parasha spells out some of Moshe’s important overarching principles for Torah living. His message to the Jewish people includes a phrase that was very dear to my Zeide a”h in his Torah learning: “Lo baShamayim hee,” we are told (the Torah is not in the Heavens Deut. 30:12). Rather, we are informed, the Torah is very close to us, in order to observe it.
Is this truly the case? Isn’t the Torah filled with instructions from on high?
Another principle that Moshe lays out for us is that of uvecharta b’chaim (Deut. 30:19 – you should choose life). This is commonly understood as an instruction for us to choose a moral way of life, and to give our lives meaning. The Ibn Ezra explains that to choose life is to choose love. Perhaps the Torah is giving us a hint – a meaningful life is about relationships. Relationships with God, with others, and with ourselves.
The Abarbanel tells us that here Moshe is teaching us an attitude: there are things in life that we all have to do to thrive – put in hard work for exams, pay taxes to the country we live in, perform mundane daily tasks. We can choose to view what we spend our time on as a chore, or we can embrace it all as a means to an end which we cherish. The Abarbanel says that we should value life and all the moments in it because they are moments where we can seek connection to God, strengthening our relationship.
We are later given the last mitzvah in the Torah – that each Jew should to some extent write their own Torah. Rabbi Sacks explains that the message of this mitzvah is that by writing our own Torah, we should make the Torah new to us. Despite the fact that it was many years ago when our forefathers accepted the Torah, we have a responsibility in every generation to take the Torah with us and to make our own lives more meaningful. Whether it is appreciating nature more, or taking time out of our busy days to pray, there is always more that we can do to connect.
I believe that this is the meaning of the Torah not being in the Heavens. We can keep the Torah meticulously by viewing it as a purely Heavenly book, but it will be devoid of meaning. Our responsibility is to bring the Torah down to earth by finding ways to make it meaningful to us, in order for it to be close to us so that we can observe it.
In these times of reflection ahead of the High Holidays, let us use listen to the words of the prophet Yishayahu, who tells us: “Seek God where you find him, call out to him when he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). We are taught that during the month of Ellul, God is closer than ever, waiting for our prayers. Let us use this time to reflect, bring meaning into our lives, and renew ahead of the new year.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
