Parshios Netzavim & Rosh Hashanah
It's Never Too Late
By Rabbi Pinchas Avruch
"See - I have placed before you today life and good, and death and
evil...and you will choose life so you will live, you and your offspring."
(Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:15,19) As Moshe cajoles the Jewish Nation one
last
time - for it was the morning of the day he would die - to maintain their
G-d consciousness and remain true to their covenant, he reminds them of the
consequences of their decisions. At the start of the narrative Moshe made
clear that that day's commitment was a renewal of the covenant of old. Why
did he need to reemphasize that this essential choice between good and evil
is being made "today"?
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1) explains that every day we have the choice of two
paths to pursue, and that day's decision is wholly independent of the past.
One who has made spiritually corrosive, unhealthy decisions throughout life
can (and should) choose that today's decisions will be growth oriented,
spiritually nourishing and healthful. Likewise, one whose decisions have
been spiritually productive cannot rely on past performance to guarantee
future results. On any given day, the path of evil is still present as a
very enticing option; every day must have an active decision to live with
G-d consciousness. Further, when one has a child, the educational and
instructional process, from the child's earliest days, must be rooted in
and enriched by spiritual nourishment.
As we approach Rosh Hashanah we are easily dejected when we recall our
growth goals of the past as our limited success in meeting them over time.
But we must remember who we are: "You are children to G-d, your L-rd."
(ibid 14:1) When a rebellious subject of a king desires to return to the
kingdom the king may opt to punish the transgressor before restoring his
citizenship. But a wayward child who returns is welcomed by his parents
with open, loving arms. Our Father awaits us...it is we who must so choose.
Have a Good Shabbos and a Sweet, Happy and Healthy New Year!
(1) 1895-1986; Rosh Yeshiva/Dean of Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem in New York
City; the leading Halachic/Jewish legal decisor of his time and one of the
principal leaders of Torah Jewry through much of the last century
Text Copyright © 2005 by Rabbi Pinchas Avruch
and Torah.org.
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