By Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi

As we near the end of the Jewish year, we also near the end of our Torah cycle. This shabbat we have a double sidra which continues Moses’ final speech to the Israelites. The first sidra is called Nitzavim, from the opening words, ‘You stand all of you this day before the Eternal One your God.’ Although translated ‘stand’, nitzavim comes from a Hebrew root meaning ‘to set up, be stationed or put in position.’ It implies being in a fixed place. Yet that is the very opposite of what the coming days of repentance demand of us. The Hebrew for repentance, teshuvah, implies movement. It means turning or returning, moving from where we are to a different place.

‘Nitzavim’ implies taking a stand, defending a position. There are times when doing this is necessary and important. We have to stand up for what is right, stand up for other people, stand up for what we believe. That demands determination, courage and even obstinacy. But there are times when we need to examine our stance and ask our selves if our position is right. The second sidra this week is called ‘Vayelech’, meaning ‘and he went’. There may be times when we examine our position and find that we have to move to a different place. From being obstinate, we have to become flexible and willing to turn around.

That is a hard thing to do. Our positions can define us. As a movement, we are defined by being Liberal. But we may find there are limits to our liberal philosophy. On the other hand, we can come to see that things we previously considered unacceptable are not such a problem after all and enlarge our liberal stance. Our movement has not been afraid to change over the years, being pioneers in our acceptance of same-sex partnerships, for example.

Sometimes, too, circumstances force us to change our views. Sadly, the current government of Israel has had this effect. Many Jews in this country were, until recently, hesitant about publicly condemning the government. However, the nature of the government, which includes openly racist and homophobic ministers, has meant that even the Board of Deputies has been openly critical and more and more Jewish people feel compelled to join with Israeli citizens resident here in the ‘Choose Democracy’ movement. Some will join the demonstration in Trafalgar Square this Sunday in an unprecedented public display of opposition to the policies of the Israeli government and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We cannot be bystanders as the government dismantles democratic structures and goes against the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel, with its pledge to ‘uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of religion race of sex…’

To change means to challenge not only ourselves but others.  It takes courage to take a stance, but even more courage to change our stance when our position has become comfortable to us and those we know. It means we have to look honestly and without preconceptions at what we believe and ask ourselves if we are right or if we need to change. We may, in all honesty, conclude that we have been right. But we may have to admit that we have been wrong and turn towards what is right.

Our sidra begins with Moses telling the Israelites: ‘Atem nitzavim – you are standing.’ But in the next chapter he tells them ‘V’atah tashuv v’shamata b’kol Adonai – and you shall return and listen to the Voice of the Eternal One.’ Atem nitzavim is in the plural, addressed to the whole congregation. V’atah tashuv is in the singular, addressed to each individual. Each of us has to do the work of teshuvah, repentance, for ourselves. Only we can honestly look at our beliefs and deeds for only we, ourselves, know our inmost being.

There is a time to stand together with the congregation and there is a time to listen to our own, individual inner voice, the voice of our conscience. Our sidra goes on to remind us that God’s commandment is very near to us, in our hearts and our mouths. These days, the approaching days of repentance, are a time to listen to the voice of our conscience and turn to where that voice directs us. This is what true repentance means. It is a precious opportunity.

May the New Year bring us nearer to listening to what God demands of us so that we may turn in repentance and live a life rich in good deeds and bringing blessing to ourselves and the world.

Recent Commentaries