?Today you are all standing before the L-rd your G-d.? (Deuteronomy 29:9) Rashi quotes the Midrash: ?Why was parashat Nitzavim attached to the curses of Ki Tavo? When Israel heard the ninety-eight curses of Ki Tavo, in addition to the forty-nine of Bechukotai, they were aghast. They said, ?Who will be able to withstand these curses?? Moshe began to propitiate them: ?Today you are all standing? - you made G-d angry many times, yet He never annihilated you, and you continue to endure before Him.?
This is a fact. The Jewish People have survived until now, and they will endure forever.
The author of Ma?or VaShemesh explains that Moses advised Israel on how to save themselves from all of these curses:
?The main way of forestalling suffering is through love and unity. When love and unity exists amongst Israel, there is no room for suffering. As our sages said, ?United in idolatry, leave Ephraim alone.? (Hoshea 4:17) Even if Israel worship idols, yet they are united, without any divisiveness, they will enjoy quiet and their unity will distance them from curses and suffering. This is the meaning of ?Today you are all standing.? It happens when ?your leaders, your tribal chiefs, your elders, your law enforcers and every Israelite man? (Deuteronomy 29:9) are of one heart and love one another.?
Indeed, at the Sinai Revelation, Israel stood at the foot of the mountain as one man with one heart, and by virtue of that they were privileged to receive the holy Torah together (Ba?al HaTurim).
Today, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, as we say, ?Let the old year with its curses end, and let the new year with its blessings commence,? making such wishes is not enough. We must also act ourselves so that the curses and suffering can cease and the blessings can befall us. The more we do for the sake of the nation?s unity, and to increase love among our people, the more we live together lovingly, the better we will be able to withstand our enemies and to defeat them.
By such means we will achieve peace, and we will continue to advance on the upward pathway to complete redemption. And may our request be fulfilled: ?Save Your people and bless Your inheritance and tend them and carry them forever.? (Psalm 28:9)
With blessings for a good and sweet year.
This is a fact. The Jewish People have survived until now, and they will endure forever.
The author of Ma?or VaShemesh explains that Moses advised Israel on how to save themselves from all of these curses:
?The main way of forestalling suffering is through love and unity. When love and unity exists amongst Israel, there is no room for suffering. As our sages said, ?United in idolatry, leave Ephraim alone.? (Hoshea 4:17) Even if Israel worship idols, yet they are united, without any divisiveness, they will enjoy quiet and their unity will distance them from curses and suffering. This is the meaning of ?Today you are all standing.? It happens when ?your leaders, your tribal chiefs, your elders, your law enforcers and every Israelite man? (Deuteronomy 29:9) are of one heart and love one another.?
Indeed, at the Sinai Revelation, Israel stood at the foot of the mountain as one man with one heart, and by virtue of that they were privileged to receive the holy Torah together (Ba?al HaTurim).
Today, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, as we say, ?Let the old year with its curses end, and let the new year with its blessings commence,? making such wishes is not enough. We must also act ourselves so that the curses and suffering can cease and the blessings can befall us. The more we do for the sake of the nation?s unity, and to increase love among our people, the more we live together lovingly, the better we will be able to withstand our enemies and to defeat them.
By such means we will achieve peace, and we will continue to advance on the upward pathway to complete redemption. And may our request be fulfilled: ?Save Your people and bless Your inheritance and tend them and carry them forever.? (Psalm 28:9)
With blessings for a good and sweet year.