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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Nitzavim
In many of its appearances in the Torah, the word nitzav has a special meaning or connotation. In the Torah reading for fast days, which includes the thirteen middot that are the basis of the Selichot (Shemot 33), the root comes up three times, referring to Hashem or to Moshe standing in a special, holy context. The gemara (Rosh Hashanah 17b) says something that "if there weren’t a pasuk, it would be forbidden to say": "Hashem covered Himself like a chazan and taught Moshe how to daven. Hashem told Moshe that whenever Bnei Yisrael sin, they should daven in that manner and Hashem will forgive them." Rav Soloveitchik learned from here that during the High Holy Days, the chazan not only represents the people but represents Hashem.
Other places that the root of nitzav comes up include regarding the three angels who stood before Avraham and Avraham’s servant standing at the spring when he asked Hashem for special guidance. Later on in Tanach, Chana was described using this term when she stood in the Mishkan before Eili begging for a child. Later on, her son, Shmuel, stood before King Shaul’s officers and caused them to prophesy. The common denominator in these cases and others is a certain element of Divine Presence that was present in each context.
The connection between nitzav and Divine Presence is explicit in Chazal in regard to Moshe’s sister, Miriam. The Torah says that she was standing at a distance, seeing what would befall her baby brother. The gemara (Sota 11a) derives from the use of the root nitzav that she was undergoing prophecy. (We might mention that the root’s spiritual connotation may also be related to the word matzeiva [monument for sacrifices], which was beloved by Hashem before it was misappropriated for idol worship.)
We return to our parasha and note that nitzavim was accomplished there very specifically in the presence of the entirety of the Jewish people. We can learn from here that in order for the people to merit the special experience of Divine Revelation, it was necessary for the nation to stand as one. As the Torah stresses, the assemblage had to include the mighty and accomplished alongside the down-trodden and simple people. At times of crisis and internal strife, it is important for us to remember that unity is our greatest secret for success; it enables us to appeal to Hashem’s attributes to increase the Attribute of Mercy.
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
