Parshas Nitzavim/Vayelech 5784

The Torah tells us (Devarim 30:19): “I call heaven and earth today to bear witness against you: I have placed life and death before you, blessing and curse; and you shall choose life, so that you will live, you and your offspring. To love Hashem your G-d, to listen to His voice and to cleave to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days… “ The Torah gives us a choice: either choose life or death. But then the Torah tells us to choose life so you will live. This seems difficult to understand. How could the Torah tell us to choose life “so you will live?” If you choose life then of course you will live. Moreover, the choice between choosing life or death seems obvious – why does the Torah need to tell us to choose life over death? What is so difficult about choosing life over death?

Rav S.R. Hirsch explains that life does not mean merely one’s physical life. It refers to the combination of one’s physical, spiritual and moral personality. On the other hand, “death” also does not merely mean one’s physical death. It means the “death” of one’s spiritual and moral personality. One cannot achieve the goal of major success in any physical activity such as running or bicycling or playing tennis without thinking and developing a plan, and then working and practicing hard to achieve the goal of that plan. If one lacks the discipline or will to develop a plan or fails to work hard to achieve it, then one will probably be unsuccessful. The same thing applies in spiritual matters. One cannot achieve great happiness and fulfillment in life without developing a plan to grow one’s moral personality and then working and practicing achieving that goal.

Fortunately, Hashem has already provided us with a plan, as the Torah says: “to love Hashem your G-d, to walk in His ways, to observe his commandments (30:16). Hirsch says that when we show our love for Hashem by striving only for the goals that G-d has shown us, then we will get nearer and nearer to Him, and achieve true happiness and fulfillment. So, Hashem is presenting us with a real choice. One can choose to love Hashem and to listen to His voice, which will result in a good life of true happiness and fulfillment. This requires serious effort, with deliberate will and forethought. However, if one chooses not to make the effort, or not follow Hashem’s directives, then one will likely not achieve such a life.

As we approach the new year, we should use these few days remaining before Rosh Hashanah to focus on those changes we can make to grow and advance on the path of loving Hashem and following His ways. We should choose “life” in order to truly “live”, and thereby merit a good year, for us and for all of the Jewish people.