Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Daily Aliya for Nitzavim-Vayelech, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: When G‑d gathers His people's exiles, the Israelites will once again serve G‑d, and will be blessed with abundance in the work of their hands, the fruit of their wombs, the fruit of their land, and the fruit of their livestock. Moshe enjoined the people to follow the mitzvot, informing them that "it is not beyond you nor is it remote from you. It is not in heaven... It is not across the sea.... Rather, it is very close to you, in your mouth, in your heart, that you may do it."

The last three words of the portion are very instructive. Thoughts, words, deeds. Teshuva, repentance, certainly contains all three elements. One must act repentant, by stopping to do the particular sin and by doing the mitzva. He must sincerely regret having done wrong and accept the proper path for his future. This is in the realm of thought. And Verbal confession to G-d is an essential ingredient of the T'shuva process. So too, one can see that many mitzvot - the whole Torah, really, is kept with words, thoughts, and deeds. This isn't really an either-or situation. The Aliya can apply both to the general and the specific.

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