We always read Parashat Netzavim on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana.
Obviously, there are lessons for us in the parasha.
The first hint is found in the words:
אַתֶּ֨ם נִצָּבִ֤ים היום
You are standing today
The rabbis tell us, based on the Zohar, that “today” refers to Rosh Hashana.
Although Moshe was originally talking to Bnei Yisrael in the desert, as they were signing a treaty, a Brit/convenant with Hashem, ready to enter the land, we learn that this wasn’t just referring to that day, but to the future. As the pasuk clearly states:
וְלֹ֥א אִתְּכֶ֖ם לְבַדְּכֶ֑ם אָנֹכִ֗י כֹּרֵת֙ אֶת־הַבְּרִ֣ית
כִּי֩ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֶשְׁנ֜וֹ פֹּ֗ה עִמָּ֙נוּ֙.... וְאֵ֨ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵינֶ֛נּוּ פֹּ֖ה
עִמָּ֥נוּ הַיּֽוֹם׃
It’s not just with you, those here today, but this is for everyone for every year.”
Every year we re-sign our contract with Hashem. We go forward with another year We don’t just continue based on last year’s lease, with a verbal agreement. We are recommitting, and starting a new contract with G-d again.
What are the other lessons?
The first is found in the words:
אתם נצבים
״You’re standing״
Rashi asks what this means.
As we have discussed, last week’s parasha spoke about the long list of curses. And when Bnei Yisrael heard these curses,
הוריקו פניהם
their faces turned pale. They didn’t know how they’d survive.
Here, Moshe is saying, “Don’t worry, you’re still here. You’re still standing. G-d loves you. He won’t destroy you.”
If that’s the case, then why read all the curses to begin with?
As we have mentioned, this is the dichotomy of Rosh Hashana. The rabbis say that on one hand we turn pale from the fear, but then on the other, Moshe says it’s okay..
We go in strong because we rely on G-d.
The next important lesson from the parasha is in the word כלכם /all of you
The Pasuk says
אתם נצבים היום כלכם
You are standing here today- All of you
Why does it say “all of you?”
Because, as we have discussed previously, the way to merit a good judgement is to be part of the nation, all together. This is one of our fundamental mindsets of Rosh Hashana.
We learn this from Isha Shumanit, the woman who took care of the prophet Elisha.
The Zohar tells us that when the words
ויהי היום are used there, “today” refers yet again, to Rosh Hashana.
And when she was asked by Elisha
הֲיֵשׁ לְדַבֶּר לָךְ אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ
if she would like to be mentioned for anything special before the king (the Zohar tells us this “king” is referring to Hashem), she replied בְּתוֹךְ עַמִּי אָנֹכִי יֹשָׁבֶת
“I want to be amongst my nation”
She didn’t want to be considered apart from the Jewish people. She didn’t want to separate herself.
We have yet another lesson in the pasuk:
It says
לפני ה׳ אלוקיך
You’re in front of Hashem your G-d
The Gemara teaches that the shofar can’t be from a cow or an ox horn. Why?
The Gemara says that it’s because as a rule, אין קטיגור נעשה סניגור
We can’t use the prosecutor as the defense attorney.
Since the ox reminds one of the golden calf (because a calf is a young ox)we don’t use an ox horn, because we don’t want to remind Hashem of our sin with the golden calf. Similarly, the Kohen Gadol doesn’t wear gold on Yom Kippur because it reminds Hashem of the golden calf.
But, the Gemara asks, regarding the Kohen Gadol not wearing gold, this only applies when he enters the Holy of Holies.
He wears gold outside of the Holy of Holies, even on Yom Kippur. And the shofar is being blown in a local shul, not in the Bet HaMikdash. So why be concerned with this rule about the prosecutor and the defense?
To which the Gemarah in Rosh Hashana reminds.
שופר נמי כיון דלזכרון הוא כבפנים דמי
The shofar also, since it is there for Hashem to remember you, it’s as if you’re standing infront of G-d.
So it’s like we’re standing in front of G-d.
Rav Yisrael Salantar says that when the shofar blows, we are like the Kohen Gadol walking into the Holy of Holies.
On one hand, this is very scary. If the Kohen Gadol had one wrong thought, it would be detrimental. But on the other hand, G-d Himself is judging you.
It’s the dichotomy, again.
Finally, following “all of you”, the pasuk continues….
רָאשֵׁיכֶ֣ם שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֗ם זִקְנֵיכֶם֙ וְשֹׁ֣טְרֵיכֶ֔ם כֹּ֖ל אִ֥ישׁ ישראל ...
...Your leaders, your elders, your police officers....
your children, your wives, it even goes down to the water carriers.
Why list everyone separately? Our rabbis say that although G-d looks at us as a whole, He also looks at us as individuals, to see if we are fulfilling our individual missions in life.
BeEzrat Hashem, we will have all of these mindsets on our mind on Rosh Hashana.
We have attached a recap, that you can print out, in order to have these mindsets available to you throughout the day.
Tizku Leshanim Rabot. Have a successful Rosh Hashana and a great year.
(and stay tuned for special Erev Rosh Hashana Sunday class as well)