The
Ma'amar Mordechai writes at the beginning of Parashat Nitzavim that we always
read Nitzavim before Rosh Hashanah to teach us that at this time of year, we
are supposed to be praying on behalf of our friends every single day. The
Perach Shoshan explains a beautiful hint in the words Atem Nitzavim Hayom.
The word Nitzavim means standing, and Chazal tell us that standing is a
reference to tefillah. Atem Nitzavim Hayom—we're all standing together
in tefillah at this special time before Rosh Hashanah.
Then
he quotes the Be'er Heitev, who brings down in halachah that during this month,
when a person writes a letter to his friend, he should bless him that he should
be inscribed and sealed for a good year. Thus, we should be praying for our
friends as well. At this time, we are supposed to be giving out blessings to
others, wishing good things upon them and praying that they receive them. This
is a time when we need extra love and unity.
We
are all going to come together to proclaim Hashem the Melech, and we should do
it together as one. The Baal HaTurim writes on the words Atem Nitzavim
that just as the Jewish People stood together in unity at Har Sinai, so too
they stood together then, and so too must we stand together now. We should be
thinking about each other, caring about each other and praying on behalf of
each other. And there is a great zechut when we do that.
A man
told me that last year, he and his friend were working together in the same
company. Things there were getting worse and worse until eventually they
weren't making any money. They finally decided together that they were going to
leave. They had no idea where they were going to go or what they would do next,
but they decided they were going to learn Shaar HaBitachon together every
single day. They learned as chavrutot and grew together in bitachon and emunah.
They also made up that each one would pray for the other to find a good job.
After
some time, someone reached out to one of the men with a job opportunity. He
went for an interview and liked what he heard. While they were still going back
and forth, he heard about a second opportunity. He looked into that one as well
and felt it would be much better for him. The first company told him there was
no urgency, and if he wanted to pursue the other opportunity, it wouldn't be a
problem. He should just let them know.
In
the end, he was hired by the second company. That very same day, the first
company called him and asked what he had decided. He told them he had just
accepted another position, but then he added, "I have a friend who is also
looking for a job." That friend immediately went down for an interview, and
they hired him on the spot.
The
two friends who had left their jobs together, learned Shaar HaBitachon together
and prayed for each other every single day were both hired exactly three months
after leaving their previous jobs—and they were both hired on the exact same
day.
This
is a beautiful example of what Atem Nitzavim could look like in our own
lives. Two people growing together, strengthening each other and each one
sincerely praying for the other's success. And then Hashem looked down upon
them and answered both of their tefillot together.
As
Rosh Hashanah approaches, we all have so much that we need and so much that
we're praying for. But we should also utilize this special time to think about
what others need. We should pray for our friends, bless them and genuinely want
Hashem to give them everything they need.
When
Hashem sees all of His children standing together with love and unity, each one
wanting the best for the other, that is a great zechut. May we all wish good
upon each other and pray for each other, and in that zechut, may Hashem bless
everyone with a wonderful and beautiful new year.
Shabbat
Shalom
