spirit

torah portion

Tending
To Our Spiritual Lives

W

“May this New Year be filled with health and
happiness for you and your family”
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Candidate, U.S. Congress, District 14

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Shana Tova

Wishing the
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a Happy and
Sweet New Year

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94

September 14 • 2017

jn

Parshat Nitzavim/
Vayelekh:
Deuteronomy
29:9-31:30; Isaiah
61:10-63:9.

e are all born with a
natural yearning to grow,
expand our horizons and
discover. We are also fixed with the
seemingly opposite need to settle
into a secure life upon firm ground.
The healthy and appropriate bal-
ance must then be to combine the
two, by always seeking to move
forward and progress while stand-
ing firmly upon everything that has
been gained so far. A drive
God. However, the text of
to change while placing an
our prayers is, neverthe-
effort to hold secure and
less, confined to the liturgy
firm ground.
which the Jewish people
This phenomenon is
have been using for gen-
hinted to in the meaning
erations. So our prayers are
of the names of this week’s
packaged in the methodical
combined Torah portions
formula of our siddur, while
Nitzavim-Vayelech. The very
packing the potential for
titles themselves portray the Rabbi Menachim
endless dynamic depth and
Mendel Polter
prime underlying messages
connection.
held in the Torah portions.
3. Acts of lovingkindness
Nitzavim is literally trans-
— Like all other mitzvot —
lated as “standing firm,” while
commandments, there are
Vayelech means “and he went.”
rigid guidelines for how they should
These two names signify the diver-
be fulfilled. However, depending
gent qualities mentioned above of
on our feeling and connection to a
movement and stillness. Yet they are
mitzvah, the passion we can infuse
read together (on the same Shabbat),
in its fulfillment is boundless, and its
thereby signifying the need to simul-
enhancement, therefore, is endless.
taneously incorporate both.
This again spells limitless personal
While this double-themed mes-
growth and flavor within the Divine
sage can be applied to many aspects
systematic structure.
of human behavior, it is also very
We read this Torah portion days
relevant to the spiritual life of every
before the entrance of the new year,
single Jew. Let us apply this to the
highlighting the preparation for the
three pillars upon which the world
High Holidays and renewed aware-
stands (Ethics of Our Fathers 1:2): (1)
ness of the sovereignty of God. It is
the study of Torah, (2) the service of
a time for fresh resolutions. Most
God — prayer, (3) acts of lovingkind-
importantly, we should strengthen
ness.
and enhance our bond with God
1. Torah study — Our daily service
on both fronts of our “fixed” and
references “Grant us our portion in
“dynamic” spirituality. •
your Torah.” We are entrusted with
the mission of learning innovatively
Menachem Mendel Polter is a rabbi at the
and contributing to Torah depth in
Woodward Avenue Shul in Royal Oak.
our own personal and unique way.
However, the discoveries must be
CONVERSATIONS
predicated upon the principles that
In your personal life, are you the one
our talmudic sages have inherited
who leans toward change and “break-
from Sinai. So, our Torah is ever-
ing out of the shell?” Or do you lean
growing within the steady param-
toward standing on very secure, firm
eters of tradition.
ground and consistency? What would
2. The service of God — prayer is
you resolve to add to your “fixed” and
dubbed “the service of the heart.”
“dynamic” spiritual life? What is the
We ought to use the time of prayer
primary element of the High Holidays?
to focus on enhancing our personal
and emotional relationship with