Parshat Nitzavim contains the extremely poignant declaration [Devarim 29’ 13’-14’]:
"And not with you alone am I making this covenant and this oath-curse. But with whoever is here with us standing today in the presence of Hashem, our God, and with those who are not here with us today".
The commentaries [see Rebbeinu Bachye] glean from here that our ancestors' acceptance of the Torah is fully binding on all of their descendants; hence, Am Yisrael today is obligated in the Mitzvot. We find a similar occurrence towards the end of the Megillah, where the Possuk states [Esther 9’ 23’]:
"The Jews accordingly assumed as an obligation [the Purim festivities], that which they had begun to practice and that Mordecai prescribed for them…"
The mechanism behind this idea, writes Rabbeinu Bachye, is the fact that while not all members across the generations could be physically present for the giving of the Torah, and the acceptance of this covenant in this week’s Parshah, in spirit, all future Neshamot of Am Yisrael were witness to these momentous National occasions. The giving of the Torah, and all of its reaffirmations [including this Parshah and Purim] are the backbone of Am Yisrael, and hence, were ceremonies that included the entire gamut of Am Yisrael that ever was and ever will be.
Interestingly, while it may seem like the giving of the Torah took place 3500 years ago, the Torah itself writes [Devarim 5’ 19’], concerning Matan Torah [the giving of the Torah]:
"These words did Hashem address to your entire assemblage at the mountain from within the fire, the cloud, and the thick cloud-a voice great and without cessation. He wrote them on two tablets of stone, and He gave them to me".
Rashi writes that the echoes and impacts of the Revelation at Har Sinai still linger, and can still be felt today. Chassidic Masters have explained that moments of inspiration that a person feels throughout their lives are the reverberations of the echoes of Matan Torah, and serve to inspire Am Yisrael even in dark times.
Based on Rabbeinu Bachye, we can offer, that if, in fact, the giving of the Torah still is impactful and offers guidance for Hashem’s Nation, then, on a deep level, all of our Neshamot remain united! For as explained in our Parshah, the acceptance of the Torah was binding because all of the Neshamot of Am Yisrael were present-ergo, Matan Torah, which is still effective in the present day, must therefore be preserving the National unity of all neshamot of Am Yisrael as well!
May we be blessed to feel this achdut [unity], and go into Rosh Hashanah with the merit of all of Am Yisrael combining to bring the eternal redemption!
Dedicated in memory of all those who have perished and sacrificed for Am Yisrael.