ParshaPix Explanations

Parsha Pix Nitzavim Vayeilech

Combined Nitzavim-Vayeilech and Haazinu - that’s the meaning of going (5770) and coming (5771) at the top of the ParshaPix.

The family in the upper-left represents the beginning of Nitzavim that describes all who are standing today before G-d. Included are men, women, and children
11 dots above Lanu Ulvaneinu…
and all types of people, including the woodcutter (George Washington, as in the cherry tree)
and the water-drawers (Jack & Jill, or is it water fetchers?)
The family also stands for those who were to participate in HAK-HEL - men, women, and children.
HAK-HEL is also represented by the crowned Torah-reader - the king,
and by the Torah in the Sukka, in the lower-right, since Hak-hel takes place on the Sukkot after Sh’mita.
The feather writing letters is for the mitzva to write a Sefer Torah.
That mitzva is also represented by the open gemara, since acquiring S’farim to learn from is also part of the mitzva.
The Xed out moon, planets, and stars is LO BASHAMAYIM HI, it is not in heaven…
The acid rain symbol is for the description of the punishment for turning away from G-d.
The Megila is for the hidden “clue” to Esther in the Torah - HESTEIR PANIM.
The questioned road signs is the choice of choosing Life or Death, Good or Evil.
The plant growing a Tzedaka box is from the haftara, referring to G-d, YATZMI’ACH TZEDAKA, will cause tzedaka to grow…
The Chatan and Kallah under the Chupa is also from the haftara.
And the chemical expression is sulfur and salt burning…
The musical note is, of course, for HASHIRA, the Song, which is a poetic way the Torah refers to the Torah. Interesting that the word HASHIRA occurs only 10 times in Tanach, 8 of which are in the Torah, 5 of which are in Parshat Vayeilech. Aside from the Torah referred to as HASHIRA, we find that in B’shalach and Chukat, HASHIRA refers to the Song of the Sea and the Song of the Well, respectively - both water, which is very often a “code word” for Torah. Note too that the word SHIRA does not appear in the Tanach, only with the HEI as HASHIRA, THE Song, making the case for its meaning the Torah even stronger.
The other musical note is for the Song which Haazinu is.
The Shofar is not for the Shofar blown during Elul or for the Shofar about to be blown on Rosh HaShana (well, it could be, but…) It was intended to point to the RASHEI TEIVOT (initial letters) of the phrase SHORESH POREH ROSH V’LAANA, a reference to bad people among us - something like the rotten apples in a barrel - in the “warnings of Nitzavim”. The Shofar is a call for SHIPUR (same root), improvement, of ourselves, our community, and all of Klal Yisrael - and stands in opposition to its Rashei Teivot “namesake”.
The YO-YO, also known as a RETURNING top, represents T’SHUVA, return. Specifically, the fact that a person can stray and sin, return, stray again, return, and again and again… and G-d is still eager (so to speak) for the T’SHUVA rather than punishing the person. The Yo-yo keeps coming back too. But beware: if the string breaks, the yo-yo keeps getting further and further away and return is not very probable.
Butterfly in Hebrew is a PARPAR. That makes it 2 PARs, or PARIM (lit. bulls) in Hebrew. The butterfly goes with the lips, which have replaced the PARIM, as stated in the haftara of Shabbat Shuva. This does not mean that davening replaces korbanot on a permanent basis. Nor does it mean that when we have a Beit HaMikdash and korbanot that we won’t daven anymore. Davening was not “invented” to take the place of korbanot. It has always been with us and will continue to be with us. It is doing double duty during the time that we are without a Beit HaMikdash. Some of the text of davening will change when we have a Beit HaMikdash, but T’fila - prayer - davening is a mitzva, a precious possession, and our way of talking to G-d.
The scene with sky and ground and an ear on each is for Haazinu HaShamayim… and V’tishma haAretz…
The cloud with rain (gently) falling from it is one of the poetic images in Haazinu for the lessons of Torah
The negated wine is for the prohibition of YAYIN NESECH, sacramental wine. According to the Rambam, it is the one prohibition of the Torah that is found and counted from Haazinu. Interestingly, the Chinuch does not count it (one of only two times that he does not follow the Rambam in mitzva-counting), but includes it in idolatrous offerings.
Apple of the eye - K’ISHON EINO

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