Shabbat Nitzaveem
Torah:
Deuteronomy 29:9 - 30:20 / Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10 - 63:9
“Not in
Heaven”
Dear Friends,
So the New Year approaches and soon we will gather
for our Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur worship.
We will bring our heavy High Holiday “machzor” prayer books and offer
our prayers up towards heaven. We will send our supplications across the sea
and out into the universe. And yet, this week’s Torah portion, which is the
same one we will read again on Yom Kippur morning, teaches a very special
lesson. The Torah is not in heaven. The
Torah is not across the sea. The Torah is not far away at all. Rather, the portion tells us, the Torah is
very close to us and in fact can be found within our very own hearts and minds.
The lesson is clear. As we search for renewal and forgiveness in
the coming year, we need not look any farther then ourselves. In fact, the best spiritual work is done not
from looking outwards, but rather looking inwards. We already have the answers and the direction
we need. We already know how to find the
right path towards growth. We already know
how to challenge ourselves to become our best selves. We already know what we
need to improve. We already know how to
seek forgiveness and change our ways for the better.
This week’s portion tells us that the Torah is not
in heaven. It is within each one of us.
Dawn joins me in sending you and your families our
fondest wishes for a Shanah Tovah – a good year, a healthy year, a happy year,
a prosperous year and a year of life!
Shabbat Shalom,
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