From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, September 19, 20, 2025/26, 27 Elul 5785
The Torah continues with the Third Discourse of Moses: (G-d will make a covenant with the Israelites, and the people are told to choose life.) Our people will have free will.
Judaic concepts and Values:
The commitment for the future in the Torah portion, we were informed that G-d made the covenant/agreement with the Israelites present at Mount Sinai and all Jews who were not present. This implies the commitment with the present also commits to the future generations. The people of Israel as a whole are forever/eternally bound to G-d and G-d’s covenant. As Jewish people we must always act in keeping with our historical character. The Jewish people are not permitted to deny their past.
Teshuvah: Repentance. Deuteronomy 30:2 states that: “you shall return to your G-d.” In the first ten phrases of Deuteronomy 30, the Hebrew word Shuv/turn appears seven times. If all of Israel turns back to the G-d it has forsaken, G-d will graciously receive them back in turn.
The Haftarah is the last of the seven Haftarot of Consolation, and it is read on the Sabbath before Rosh HaShanah. From the Book of Isaiah, the prophet was speaking to the exiled Judeans in Babylon and predicted the future glories of Zion. Never again will the Israelites be forsaken, for G-d will always be their Protector. The exiles must return to their Promised Land.
Nachmanides (known as the Ramban 1195-1270, Spain) explains the obvious: those who are not here today are all future generations. This is a daring commitment – to make an eternally binding covenant, which obligates not only the person making it, but those who come after them as well.
My question to you is, “Does the Torah have a right to bind hundreds and even thousands of generations of Jews forever to this sacred agreement to be G-d’s special people and obey the Torah?” This is the assumption under which the Torah functions, and this is traditional doctrine. The responsibility of being Jewish and preserving Judaism rests upon each generation, and each generation must pass this responsibility to the next generation.
So, we go to the High Holiday services, festivals (Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot), and Hanukkah. Our most important holiday is…it is done weekly, monthly, and yearly, is Shabbat! Each generation has to make Judaism reflect their “Modern Age”, and the interpretations are both meaningful and spiritual, so Judaism not only survives, but THRIVES!
This Shabbat marks 713, 714 days since October 7, 2023! May we all pray for the return of all our Hostages and our dead to their loved ones. Am Ysrael Chai! Long Live Israel!
Shabbat Shalom, L’Shanah Tovah U’Maytukha (A Happy and Sweet New Year),
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
