Speaking to Me

כ״ו אלול, תשס״ה

There is a passage in this week’s parasha that I feel is speaking directly to me, at this juncture in my life. Devarim 30:12-14 reads as follows:

לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא לֵאמֹר מִי יַעֲלֶה-לָּנוּ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְיִקָּחֶהָ לָּנוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה׃ וְלֹא-מֵעֵבֶר לַיָם הִוא לֵאמֹר מִי יַעֲבָר-לָנוּ אֶל-עֵבֶר הַיָם וְיִקָּחֶהָ לָּנוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה׃ כִּי-קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ׃

“It is not in the heavens, to say, ‘Who will go up for us to the heavens and take it for us and we will listen and do it.’ And it is not across the ocean, to say, ‘Who will cross over for us to the other side of the ocean and take it for us and we will listen and do it.’ Rather it is very close to you, this thing, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.” (translation mine)

The verses themselves are referring to the concept of t’shuva, and they are very valuable in that context, but on reading them earlier this week I took them to heart as a reference to the entire Torah and my potential to absorb it and live it. May I have the koach and the presence of mind to make the best possible use of that capacity this year and throughout my life.