Learning  >  Parashah

Nitzavim and VaYaylech, Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

Parashat Nitzavim concludes Moses' second sermon. It begins with the famous introduction: "You are standing here today, all of you, before Adonai your God....from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water, to enter into the covenant with Adonai your God." The covenant is with all Jews, and it's eternal.

The rest of chapter 29 warns against people who turn away from God to worship idols; those who secretly believe they can break the covenant. The text warns that terrible punishments will hit the entire people; the land will look like Sodom and Gomorrah. Chapter 30 promises that, even after being driven from the land because of our sins, if we atone and return to God's covenant, we will be returned to the land and be rewarded. Verses 11-15 note: "For this commandment which I command you today is not incomprehensible for you, nor is it far off. It's not in heaven to say, "Who will go up for us to heaven and take it for us and cause us to hear it that we may do it?" Nor is it across the sea to say, "Who will cross for us to the other side of the sea and take it for us and cause us to hear it, that we may do it?" But the word is very close to you in your mouth and in your heart to do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death, and evil..."  Verse 19 enjoins us to, "therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed...."

VaYaylech,( Deuteronomy 31), is one of the shortest portions in the Torah.  The portion begins with a bold statement from Moses, informing the people of Israel that God has told him that he will not cross into the land of Israel.  He conveys that God has promised to take care of the people as they make their way, and then Moses appoints Joshua as their leader.

Then text itself says, "And Moses wrote the Torah".  He hands it to the Kohanim, the sons of Levi, the bearers of the Ark and the elders of Israel, and commands them to read, teach and pass on the teachings within it.  Moses acknowledges that the people always have been, and always will be rebellious and stiff necked.  But he reads the entire Torah to the congregation of Israel in hopes that "this song shall speak up as a witness, and not be forgotten from the mouth of Israel's offspring" (literally "its seeds").

After Moses finishes his sermons to the people, he tells them that God has informed him that he's about to die. Joshua, son of Nun, will bring the people into the Land. Moses assures them that God will go with them, and he encourages them and Joshua to "be strong and resolute."  Moses writes down "this Teaching" and gives it to the priests and "to all the elders of Israel." They are commanded to read this text every seventh year on Sukkot, "when all Israel comes to appear before Adonai your God in the place that He will choose." God shifts the leadership to Joshua, and tells Moses that the people are going to break the covenant. He commands Moses to write a poem and teach it to the people of Israel. Moses writes the poem. In one of the finest cliffhangers in the Torah, VaYaylech concludes with the verse, "Then Moses recited the words of this poem to its conclusion, in the hearing of the whole congregation of Israel;"

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