Nitzavim-Vayelech 5774

By Rabbi Daniela Szuster
B´nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica

We are all part of the Covenant

The first parashah of this weeks, parashat Nitzavim, starts by saying: “You stand this day, all of you, before the Lord your God — your tribal heads, your elders and your officials, all the men of Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to waterdrawer — to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God is concluding with you this day, with its sanctions” (Devarim 29: 9-11).

It is interesting that in these verses, it is first said that the entire people is standing in front of God, and immediately after, it starts to name different members of the people.  Why was it necessary to name the different hierarchies?  Wasn´t it enough to say that God was speaking for the entire people?

Perhaps the purpose of listing each one of the members of the people was to prevent those who are usually in power, occupying the highest hierarchical positions among society, from seizing control of the covenant with God and the wisdom of Torah, hindering everyone else from accessing these gifts.  This clarification reminds us that everyone was present at the time of the covenant, and that each member of the people can share equally in said legacy.

These are not isolated verses, for there are many others expressing the same idea.  For instance, in the second parashah we read this week, parashat Vayelech, it is written:

“Gather the people — men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities — that they may hear and so learn to revere the Lord your God and to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching” (Devarim 31:12).

And when reading about Joshua’s times: “There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them” (Joshua 8: 35).

These three sources are very clear:  each one of the members of the people, regardless of the social status imposed upon them by society since their birth, have the right to share in the covenant, to fulfill the commandments, and to hear the reading of the law.

No separations are mentioned between rich and poor, women and men, adults and elderly people.

Regardless of the differences and imposed hierarchies, everyone stands at the same level before God; there’s no segregation, oppression, or discrimination.

Western society, from its origins, is structured based on hierarchies and social differences, in groups of masters and slaves; some hold the power and others are subject to it.  Some can achieve knowledge, whereas its access is forbidden to others.

A large part of the history of humanity deals with the fight to become masters and stop being slaves.

The great paradigm is that some people are considered among the norm and those who do not fit, are outside the norm. Thus, we have hundreds of minority groups, alienated because they do not agree with the norm.  Being humans so different from each other, how could we fit within one and the same measuring rod!  Winners are not just those who hold the power, but also the ones who have access to knowledge, privileged to pass it on to their equals.

This has been the reality for hundreds of years, until this day.  There have been changes in the last few decades, but not all that are needed in order to live in an egalitarian and fair society.  Our tradition has not been an exception, though we can find a hidden message that tells us God approaches everyone in the same way; the covenant is open for everybody, while accepting that we are all different.

Going back to the first verse of our parashah, a Midrash wonders about the time when our entire people will be really standing before God, answering that this will happen when everyone is as united as a bundle of hay.  When someone lifts a bundle of hay, it is difficult to break it apart.  However, even a baby can break a single blade by itself.  From this we learn that the people of Israel will only be redeemed when we are united like a bundle of hay (Yalkut Shimoni).

We could add: when there is equality, respect, and justice among all human beings.  When young and old, men and women, rich and poor, regardless of their differences, are united before God.

Everybody, absolutely everybody, has the possibility of taking part in the covenant.  The chance to participate in the covenant and support it is in the hands of each one of us.  What matters is not the person’s age, sex, or social status, but their manifestation of willingness, courage, and faith.  It is up to us to stand before God, in each and every moment of our lives.

In a few days we will be entering the Days of Awe.  Perhaps this is the time for asking ourselves what kind of covenant are we practicing on a daily basis, and to which do we want to adhere during this coming year.  What pacts had we planned and didn’t do.  What promise did we make and not keep, and what are we proposing now.  What covenant do we want to teach our children and what kind of covenant are we actually teaching them.

In these Yamim Noraim, may God grant us the chance to renew our pact, to commit to it and unite with each other.  May we achieve that all members of society be respected as equals, and may they all live honorably.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Daniela Szuster

B´nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica