Torah Tidbits

23 May 2012 / 2 Sivan 5772
Issue 0875
Parashat Nitzavim Vayeilech 5769
September 09, 2009

Parsha Points to Ponder

Parsha Points to Ponder - Nitzavim Vayeilech

By By Rabbi Dov Lipman

1) Why does the Torah suddenly switch to the singular (L’OVRICHA) when describing the Jews actually making the covenant with G-D after using the plural throughout the rest of this section of the Parsha (29:11)?
2) The Torah describes the fact that this new covenant is not only binding on those who were there at the time but on future generations as well (29:14). Why does it describe those other people as THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE WITH US TODAY (IMANU) instead of simply saying THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE TODAY without the word IMANU?
3) Why does the Torah describe G-D removing the spiritual obstacles from our hearts “to enable us to come to love Him” (30:6) after it already described our repentance and return to G-D at an earlier stage in the process (30:2)?

Suggested answers

1) The Da’at Zekainim Mibaalei HaTosfot answers that the Torah wants to emphasize that the entire nation was standing there as one unit so that no one can try to claim that he was not there and did not accept the covenant.
2) The Kli Yakar teaches that this alludes to the fact the others WHO ARE NOT HERE refers to souls who had not yet entered the word but existed at the time. They were not HERE WITH US but they were here, in existence. This also explains how a covenant can be binding on future generations. If the people do not yet exist, how can they be bound to a covenant made years earlier? The fact that all our souls were in existence and aware of the covenant being made solves that problem.
3) The Ohr Hachayim explains that there are three components to serving G-D. One is Torah study, second is avoiding transgressions, and the third is fulfilling positive commandments. The first repentance described in pasuk 2 refers to a return to Torah study. The removing of the spiritual obstacles in pasuk 6 refers to avoiding sin. The third step in pasuk 8, where the Torah states AND YOU WILL REPENT (V’ATA TASHUV) refers to a return to doing the positive commandments.

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