This week we read a double portion, the parashot Nitzavim and Vayelech. We find them on Dvarim (Deuteronomy) 29:9–30:20 and 31:1–30. In Nitzavim, Moses describes the Covenant between G-d and the Israelites, urging the Israelites to uphold the Covenant and honor the Torah so that they may be rewarded with life in the Land of Israel. In Vayeilech, Moses concludes his speech to the Israelites, blesses Joshua, and instructs the community to gather every seven years to read publicly from the Torah.

The beginning of Nitzavim is absolutely powerful. “You stand this day, all of you, before your G-d יהוה (…) to enter into the covenant of your G-d יהוה, (…) in order to establish you this day as G-d’s people and (…) in order to be your G-d. (…) I make this covenant, with its sanctions, not with you alone, but both with those who are standing here with us this day before our G-d יהוה and with those who are not with us here this day.”

I invite you to focus our attention on these words.

Nitzavim is translated as You Stand. The concept of standing conveys the idea of something or someone set in place, static and still. Standing can be seen in a positive light, alert, ready for whatever the future brings, prepared physically and mentally to face the circumstances, and dealing with them successfully. On the other hand, it can also evoke images of paralysis.

Vayelech is translated as (Moses) Went. Using the verb to go describes movement, a fluidity of being in transit; we left here and are not there yet. We can walk following a carefully planned itinerary or aimlessly in circles. We are on the go, trusting our roots and testing our wings.

There is an apparent contradiction of terms here, as we are discussing opposing ideas of stillness and movement, but they just show us the balance we are striving to achieve in life.  There is strength in standing firm when the situation calls for it; there is courage and hope in moving forward when appropriate.

The covenant is made “today” with “all of you”, with those present at the moment of Moses’ address to the people of Israel and with those not there. The generation after those who left Egypt was blessed with entering the Promised Land, a land also granted to the future generations who are not there yet. The statement “All of you” includes all of us. We are making room for the future generations of Bnai Israel, all the souls that will be born into or become part of the Jewish people.

The use of the word “today“ conveys a sense of immediacy, of urgency in the current moment. “Today” keeps us in the present while at the same time “all of you” evokes an eternal feeling. When we recite Modah ani in the morning giving thanks for our soul returning to our body, our covenant with G-d is renewed every day extending into infinity, finding a delicate balance between the fleeting personal moment and the timeless chain linking generation to generation.

Later on, Moses continues the discourse started in previous parashot, stressing the commandment to follow Torah and choose life and its blessings, even though he acknowledges that the children of Israel will stray from this path in the future. Since punishment and curses are the consequence of not abiding the Law, Moses strongly stresses the commandment to follow Torah and choose life. The Torah was given to us and we take active part in this Covenant of Law, Faith and Peoplehood by accepting it and following its teachings, with room for a variety of interpretations, thoughts and also struggle.

Today, as a country, we are taking steps to walk along the indigenous communities. On September 30th, in Canada we stand together to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We remember the impact of residential schools and honour the survivors and their experiences. As citizens of the True North we are part of a political covenant intended to keep us Strong and Free. We are now determined to learn from the dark chapters of Canada’s history, striving to put an end to segregation and discrimination against the indigenous peoples and to do better, creating an inclusive future for all of us.

When we choose life for ourselves, we are also choosing life for our children, our fellow humans and their children. We are making a clear statement of our most cherished values.

May all the countries in the world, their leaders and inhabitants, be able to stand by each other and walk together. May all of us see a time when all humans choose life, and are willing to use the narrative of each group as the different building blocks to create an inclusive multifaceted pillar of truth.  May we find our way towards the reconciliation of the pieces of our shared history in support of creating our shared future. Ken hiyie ratzon.