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Nitzavim/Vayelech -
First Aliyah |
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It is the last day of Moses' life, traditionally dated as 7th Adar
(1312 BCE). But before dying he needs to complete the forging of the
covenantal relationship between G-d and the people. The list of heads, tribes, elders, officers, men, children, women, and foreign manual laborers testifies to the fact that the covenant (brit) needs to be renewed between G-d and every single member of Israel. The description of the final covenant almost legalistic, defines the relational position of both parties ("you are to be His People and He will be your G-d"), A surprising clause is added: the covenant will be binding on all future generations, even though they are not present to witness this agreement. Those who reject the convenant by serving other gods when they enter Israel will be cursed and their land will be
destroyed. Other nations will realize the consequences of repudiating G-d's covenant. Moses ends with esoteric philosophy: while G-d's ways are unfathomable, the people and their descendants are expected only to follow what is known to them, the words of the Torah.
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| Thoughts to Consider and Discuss |
1. "You are standing today..." (29:9). What is the signifigance of the place in which they are standing?
2. How conscious should leaders be of emphasizing the importance of various minority or underprivileged groups?
3. How could thousands of generations of Jews be bound to an agreement which they were not there to accept?
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"...your heads, your tribes, etc. (29:9)... This means that [in this rededication of the covenant] you are all
responsible (areivim) for one another. Even if there is only
one righteous person among you, you can all stand on his merit... and when one of you sins, the entire generation is punished."
Midrash Tanchuma, Nitzavim 3
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 | | Points to Ponder | |
What new dimensions are added to a covenant where all are mutually responsible for each other?
How would you define the resposibility of each of the groups mentioned in 29:9-10? How would they differ from each other?
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