Musical Treats: Achalt Sha’alti
(Duet for Elul) – אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי – Lea K & Rabbi T feat. Coleen Dieker
Rabbi Lauren Tuchman: Nitzavim Longing For Our Leaders
Rabbi Tuchman writes about the parashah as if it is another moment of revelation. The Torah exists within each of us. She writes that when we welcome Jews from all backgrounds into our communities, we find the Torah within them and it is deeper, and more spiritually alive.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Nitzavim Why Be Jewish?
As Moses is close to death, his concern for the people is to preclude any future generation saying that they are not bound by the covenant, only their ancestors. His statement “Whoever is not here” cannot refer to Israelites at the time who were somewhere else; the text informs us that the entire nation was present. Therefore, it can only refer to future generations. Rabbi Sacks questions how we can be obligated without consent.