Standing Firm and Climbing Even Higher
Shabbos is a day of rest also in the sense that the normal resistance we experience to spiritual matters is neutralized. LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYEILECH LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYEILECH
How Many Torah Portions are there?
How many Torah portions are there? The answer depends on how you count them. If we were to separate all of the Torah portions into separate sections, there would be a grand total of 54. Yet the accepted number is 53. Indeed, the Hebrew word Gan-garden has the numerical value of 53, alluding to the Torah’s status as a veritable garden. How do we account for this discrepancy?
In truth, there are only 53 portions. This week’s Parsha, Netzavim and Vayeilech are usually combined, as it is this year, because they are essentially one Parsha. However in certain years, this Parsha is split into two portions.
When Rosh Hashanah occurs on a Shabbos —as it does this year— or on a Thursday, the Torah portion remains intact as one. Only when Rosh Hashanah occurs on a Monday or Tuesday, does it become necessary to split the LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYEILECH parsha into two readings.
Now the simple reason for this distinction is that when Rosh Hashanah occurs on a Monday or Tuesday, then we are left with more Sabbaths to the year than there are Torah portions. We have thus no choice and are compelled to take the parsha of Nitzavim and Vayeilech and split it into two. When Rosh Hashanah occurs on Shabbos, we read a specific selection of the Torah that discusses Rosh Hashanah and we do not read the weekly Torah portion. Similarly, if Rosh Hashanah occurs on a Thursday, Yom Kippur will occur on Shabbos, and the Torah reading then will be a specific Yom Kippur reading and not the weekly parsha. In those situations there is precisely the right number of weeks left and no need to split a single parsha into two.
We must try to understand, the spiritual meaning in all this. In addition, we must try to understand why, of all Torah portions, do we split the one of Nitzavim and Vayeilech.
Standing Firm
Nitzvaim does not just mean standing. It means standing firm and victorious. The Hebrew word for standing is omdim. In a spiritual context, the difference between the LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYEILECH two parallels the difference between a person who has struggled his entire life to conquer his weaknesses and to develop healthy traits, but who is still vulnerable and the individual who has successfully reached his goal and is firmly ensconced in his new position of triumph over their frailties.
However, even when one has attained the status of Nitzavim, they must realize that they cannot stay in one place. Not only is there always room for improvement, one must also begin a completely new journey, to scale new heights. Thus, the name of the second section of the parsha, Vayeilech, “And he went,” implying that Moses, in spite of the phenomenal achievements of his life, realized on his dying day, that he must continue to move to newer and higher levels.
Occasional Pause
And while this lesson can usually be applied to everyone, there are some people and some occasions when we cannot demand that one make the immediate transition from Nitzavim-standing firm and Vayeilech-moving onward. In some-albeit, the minority of—situations one must pause between their attainments and the need to go on.
When Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur occur on a
LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS
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Shabbos—as in this year—we do not have to “split” the parsha, for the Shabbos itself enables us to quickly internalize the newly attained spiritual heights and to be ready to “travel” on. Shabbos is a day of rest also in the sense that the normal resistance we experience to spiritual matters is neutralized. Hence, we don’t have to expend additional energy to maintain our newly attained spiritual position. We can make an easy transition into the mode of continued growth.
During those years that both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur occur on ordinary weekdays, the climb to the top is that much more precarious. One has to contend with “weekday” distractions. One has to engage in a struggle to maintain one’s balance. When these Holy Days occur on a Shabbos, the day of rest and delight, we are endowed with Divine assistance to remain ensconced at the top of the mountain; the road is peaceful and invigorating. One can then easily reach for the next level for there is no need to fear backsliding from the level just attained.
The Messianic Age has been designated as a Shabbos Age. From the time of Adam and Eve, six millennia have elapsed, corresponding to the six days of the week… The Messianic Age, which will coincide with the seventh millennia, is therefore the Sabbath of creation. One of the implications of this designation is that no matter how high we can LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS NITZAVIM-VAYEILECH climb, we will never have to fear that we will backslide. Every day, in the Messianic Age, will be a day of both Nitzvaim and Vayeilech. We will stand firm on the new turf of spiritual victory and we will simultaneously be capable of soaring to even greater heights.
Thus, this year, when we celebrate Rosh Hashanah on Shabbos, we are given a sample of what life will be like in the Messianic Age.
May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year! L’Shana Tova Umesukah!
LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS
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LIGHT FORM THE FUTURE – PARSHAS
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From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Nitzavim by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
