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48 September 10 2 009

W

e are a covenantal people.
and that we must commit to a mean-
The Torah began with a
ingful change. By making this trans-
covenant cut by God and
formation, we begin our return both
Abraham in Genesis and since that
to God and to those with whom we
time, more than a handful of addi-
have become estranged.
tional covenants were forged.
What I have found is that in so
This week in Parashat Nitzavim-
many of our fallen relationships
Vayelech, with God about to give up
— beneath our anger — is an even
on the people as a result
deeper fear that if we take
of their repeated worship
the first step and offer
of multiple false gods in
our hands in peace — we
the desert, Moses realizes
stand the possibility of
it is his final chance. He
being rejected.
must quickly intervene and
But this is not the sea-
cement an eternal contract
son of rejection. Quite the
of trust and commitment
opposite! This is the time
between God and the
for everyone's teshuvah
Israelites.
— the opportunity for the
So, just days before his
turning of the heart, the
Rabbi Joseph
death, Moses seeks to
soul and the spirit. In one
H. Krakoff
persuade the Israelites to
short
week, we will gather
Special to the
take responsibility for their
to
commence
a new year,
Jewish News
disloyalty over 40 years in
5770, and the best way to
the wilderness. This can
begin again is to start fresh.
only be achieved in one way — if the
To reach out. To reconcile. To renew.
people agree to ask for forgiveness and To reunite.
seek teshuvah (repentance) by turning
True teshuvah, as our tradition
their hearts once and for all toward
teaches, is an exercise in compassion,
the Almighty.
honesty, understanding and love.
The Hebrew verb "v'shavta" —
And it is true teshuvah that will turn
meaning "return" — appears in our
the next week into days of reunion
portion in order to teach that if one
— with God and with each other. May
is serious about taking responsibility
we not miss the boat on this unique
for his/her past mistakes, God unhesi-
opportunity, but instead, may we work
tatingly reaches back and grants the
harder in our own lives to ensure that
truly repentant another chance to get
we are all — our family, our friends
it right.
and each of our loved ones — rowing
The text in Chapter 30 of our par-
in the same direction. This is my hope
shah explains how this process works:
and my prayer for us all.
"When bad things befall you and you
Shabbat shalom and shanah tovah
return to God ... heeding His com-
u'metukah!
mandments with all your heart and
soul ... then the Lord will restore your Joseph Krakoff is a rabbi at Congregation
fortunes and take you back in love.
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County.
He will bring you together again ...
and into the land that your fathers
possessed, and you too shall possess
What are you going to do
it. And He will make you more pros-
differently in the new year? Is
perous and more numerous than your
there anyone whose apology
ancestors."
you need to secure? If someone
In this process of repentance, we
comes to you and apologizes,
must first acknowledge that our
would you accept it?
behavior has been less than perfect