{"id":4122,"date":"2018-09-05T20:16:08","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T20:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/batkol.info\/?p=4120"},"modified":"2018-09-05T20:16:08","modified_gmt":"2018-09-05T20:16:08","slug":"parashat-nitzavim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/2018\/09\/05\/parashat-nitzavim\/","title":{"rendered":"Parashat Nitzavim"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sh<\/span>abbat Table Talk<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Parashat <\/span>Nitzavim<\/span> \u2013 Erev Shabbat 7<\/span>th<\/span> September 2018<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

W<\/span>eek of 2<\/span>nd<\/span> \u2013 8<\/span>th<\/span>September<\/span>, 2018)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Torah Portion: <\/span>Deut. 29.9-30.20<\/span>Haftarah: <\/span>Isa 61.10-63.9<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Theme: <\/span>Bittersweet Past, <\/span>but <\/span>Apple and Honey for the <\/span>Future<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"N<\/span>itzavim, \u201c<\/span>you stand (firm)<\/span>\u201d. Today is the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah, an end of a bitter year, and the beginning of a <\/span>good<\/span> and sweet year. <\/span>The Torah reading presents different themes, such as the unity of Israel, of desolation and redemption, the importance of Torah and choices. The Haftarah today <\/span>depicts <\/span>fundamentally the celebration <\/span>of <\/span>future freedom. Today\u2019s <\/span>reading<\/span>s <\/span>and the <\/span>holiday food \u2013 apple and honey<\/span>seemingly present<\/span> some connections.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Moshe <\/span>summons the entire Israel to \u201cturn around toward\u201d or \u201cto be returned\u201d<\/span> (<\/span>\u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05d3<\/span>: <\/span>shavta ad<\/span>) and \u201cto return\u201d (<\/span>\u05ea\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1<\/span>: <\/span>tashuv<\/span>), who s<\/span>tand before <\/span>their <\/span>past, and <\/span>their old selves. <\/span>For some Jewish sages, the<\/span> play of words is a process of realization<\/span>,<\/span> repentance<\/span>, return and renewal<\/span>. <\/span>The Hebrew phrase, <\/span>s<\/span>havta ad<\/span> summons us to <\/span>choose (<\/span>\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc<\/span>\u05b8<\/span>:<\/span>u\u2019<\/span>bachar<\/span>ta<\/span>) to <\/span>\u201cturn a<\/span>round towards\u201d<\/span> G-d. Gaining a deep\u00a0<\/span>realization <\/span>of the<\/span> self is an invitation to a <\/span>new way of life, <\/span>tashuv<\/span>a<\/span>that is, <\/span>a life with G-d. <\/span>The <\/span>tashuv<\/span>a<\/span> is a choice for a sincere repentance, desire to return and commit to a renewal of life<\/span> (<\/span>\u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd<\/span>: <\/span>ha<\/span>yim<\/span>). <\/span>In the book of Deuteronomy, the Hebrew people are in exile, <\/span>which <\/span>can be analogous to<\/span>a relationship away from G-d, a sort of spiritual suicide. Nonetheless, even a<\/span> cynical<\/span> sinner can sense G-d, because <\/span>the <\/span>mitzvah<\/span> is in \u201cour mouth (<\/span>b\u2019al peh<\/span>), in our heart\u201d<\/span> (<\/span>\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b4\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8<\/span>)<\/span>in the mouth, <\/span>in the inner person, <\/span>is <\/span>in <\/span>the heart, mind and will<\/span>. This means that e<\/span>ach of us <\/span>has<\/span> a <\/span>neshamah<\/span> that is<\/span>,<\/span>a <\/span>piece of the Divine<\/span>, h<\/span>ence, we can look inward, and see more clearly our being. Given that we have a <\/span>neshamah<\/span>, <\/span>that is abundant, or even i<\/span>nfinite, we have<\/span> the utmost o<\/span>pportunities <\/span>to direct ourselves to G-d, to achieve a <\/span>deeper level of connection<\/span>, and eventually<\/span>desire to be home <\/span>with the Divine<\/span>. <\/span>In fact, G-d does not only wait for our return home,\u00a0<\/span>but more so <\/span>G-d brings us to authentic life that is home itself. <\/span>We sense authentic freedom only when we choose life over death.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Similarly, the <\/span>Rosh Hashanah<\/span> is a feast of repentance and renewal of life depicted with its food, an<\/span>apple and honey<\/span>. M<\/span>any believe that <\/span>an apple <\/span>has healing <\/span>properties<\/span>, <\/span>while <\/span>honey<\/span>gives<\/span>added<\/span>strength. In this case, it is good to begin the year with <\/span>a <\/span>renewed spirit, healed from past <\/span>hurts and aches, <\/span>and <\/span>have <\/span>the strengt<\/span>h to face challenges <\/span>ahead <\/span>in the coming <\/span>year.<\/span> The apple and honey <\/span>are <\/span>not on our table, but this sweetness and strength are a<\/span>lways<\/span> inside of us; <\/span>the <\/span>neshamah<\/span>in<\/span>each one, helps us <\/span>to <\/span>stand<\/span> firm<\/span>, reflect<\/span>,<\/span> and give clarity about <\/span>the person <\/span>we have become <\/span>in <\/span>the past year, <\/span>and <\/span>of<\/span>remorse for the wrong we did, <\/span>and <\/span>hope for G-d\u2019s grace, forgiveness<\/span>,<\/span> and peace. Seeing matters about our self with clarity, <\/span>let us d<\/span>esire<\/span>, and <\/span>nitzavim<\/span> to realign our self towards G-d, who is our Home, and who will bring us all Home. It is <\/span>indeed a Home Sweet Home <\/span>when we choose life<\/span>. <\/span>Shana Tova U\u2019metukah!<\/span> (<\/span>\u05e9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d5\u05de\u05ea\u05d5\u05e7\u05d4<\/span>: <\/span>A Good and Sweet Year!)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reflection and Discussion:<\/span>1<\/span>.<\/span>In looking back to our<\/span> past year, what do you deeply regret <\/span>for<\/span> doing or not doing<\/span>?<\/span>2<\/span>. <\/span>How <\/span>did such action or inaction affect<\/span> your core character? <\/span>3<\/span>. <\/span>What concrete action will you do to correct the wrong you did in the past?<\/span> What sort of person<\/span> do<\/span> you wish to be this year?<\/span><\/p>\n

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This week\u2019s Parashat <\/span>Nitzravim<\/span> Commentary was prepared by<\/span><\/p>\n

K<\/span>ristine Meneses, Ph.D.<\/span>, Phiippines,<\/span> Bat Kol Alumna 2016 <\/span><\/p>\n

Email address: <\/span>krstn.rw@gmail.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[Copyright \u00a9 2018<\/span>]<\/span><\/p>\n

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PLEASE NOTE:<\/span> The weekly Parashah commentaries represent the research and creative thought of their <\/span>authors and<\/span> are meant to stimulate deeper thinking about the meaning of the Scriptures.\u00a0<\/span>While they draw upon the study methods and sources employed by the Bat Kol Institute, the views and conclusions expressed in these commentaries are solely those of their authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Bat Kol. The commentaries, along with all materials published on the Bat Kol website, are copyrighted by the writers, and are made available for personal and group study, and local church purposes. Permission needed for other purposes. Questions, comments and feedback are always welcome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cChristians Studying the Bible within its Jewish milieu, using Jewish Sources.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Website: <\/span>www.batkol.info<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <\/span>Parashah Admin<\/span>: <\/span>gill@batkol.info<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Shabbat Table Talk Parashat Nitzavim \u2013 Erev Shabbat 7th September 2018 Week of 2nd \u2013 8thSeptember, 2018) Torah Portion: Deut. 29.9-30.20Haftarah: Isa 61.10-63.9 Theme: Bittersweet Past, but Apple and Honey for the Future   Download   Nitzavim, \u201cyou stand (firm)\u201d. Today is the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah, an end of a bitter year, and the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":4116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4122"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4122\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}