>> Torah portion
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 7:00 p.m.
The Choice Is Yours
DOCUMENTARY FILM & DISCUSSION
Rescue in the Philippines
R
in the Philippines
escue the previously
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Parshat Nitzavim: Deuteronomy 29:9-
30:20; Isaiah 61:10-63:9.
0
f the 54 weekly Torah por-
tions, if I could choose one
favorite, it would be this
week's portion. It's called Nitzavim and
it begins with the words, Atem nitza-
vim, which means "you are all stand-
ing here this day:'
The entire community has gathered
and is standing before Moses who is
giving his farewell speech to the people
as they prepare to enter the Land of
Israel. It's a great speech,
filled with lots of wonder-
ful lessons — lessons about
how to live our lives and
about our outlook. At the
end of the Torah portion,
we're told that God has
set before us blessing and
curse.
We've been given a
choice between life and
death. Between reward
and punishment. It's up to
us, through our actions,
worship and speech, to do
the right thing and to choose life and
blessing.
For many, the plain meaning of
this text is that if we follow God's
commandments and laws, we will be
choosing life and blessing.
But for me, it's not simply about fol-
lowing commandments. This portion
is teaching us that we have the ability,
the freedom and the luxury of making
choices in our lives.
Some choices are small, some large.
Some are easy to make, some not so
easy.
We can choose to act in a way that
brings us pleasure or pain.
We can choose to say words that are
hurtful or helpful.
We can choose to step in when
someone needs help, or we can ignore
them.
We can choose to follow the rules or
break them.
And though it is sometimes diffi-
cult, we're commanded to follow God's
ways and to always choose to do the
right thing. Because when we make
that choice, we're choosing a better life
and choosing blessing.
Nitzavim couldn't come at a more
perfect time. It is the portion that
immediately precedes our High
Holidays. This is the case every year.
Because, as the rabbis of old discov-
ered many years ago, there is a sublim-
inal message that we find in this por-
tion about what we should do when we
make a mistake and make bad choices
in our lives — something that's bound
to happen because we're human.
They discovered when counting
words that the Hebrew root
word shoove appears seven
different times in a 10-verse
section of this portion.
Shoove, means "to turn" or
"to return:' and is later con-
nected to the word teshuvah,
repentance. Since no word in
the Torah was superfluous,
the rabbis concluded the
repetition of the root word
was to serve as a reminder
for us.
To rabbis, it's a reminder
that if we haven't started
our High Holy Day sermons, we better
get on it.
For everyone else, it's a reminder
that it's time to begin preparing for
the Ten Days of Repentance. It's time
for us to do our soul searching, to
reflect on our actions and the choices
we made during this past year and to
think of ways that we can better our-
selves in the future and make better
choices.
Wishing you a sweet, happy and
healthy New Year.
untold story of 1,200
Jews who escaped the
Nazis to the Philippines.
After the film, join
us for a special Q&A
discussion.
At this event, guests may
preview a panel which
will honor the coordinators of the rescue and will be installed as part of the
HMC's permanent exhibit.
Refugees Attend Dinner at the Frieder Home – April 30, 1940
■ LOCATION: The Berman Center for the Performing Arts
■ ADMISSION: $10 HMC member/$15 nonmember
■ TICKETS: Call 248.661.1900 or visit http://theberman.org
PN C
VOICE
FOUNDATION
Daniel A. Schwartz is a rabbi at Temple
Conversations
• If you were Moses and sharing
God's words with the people in
your final speech, what would
be one lesson that you would be
sure to share?
• What is one choice you made
this past year that you wish you
could make over? What would
you do differently?
Susan & Nelson Hersh • Michael Liebowitz
Stephanie & Jared Miller • Aviva & Jack Robinson
Anita & Kenneth Volk • Lori & Steven Weisberg
Anti-Defamation League .
StandWithUs
Questions on events?
Call Lawrence Willim at 248.536.9604
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2020160
September 10 • 2015
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