By: Stephanie Geller
Chief Culture Officer
When we lose a loved one and we cannot see them or speak to them anymore, we find new ways to connect with them. We see them in prayer, in nature, and in our children. We can still learn from them every day, relying on them to help us reset our moral compass when we are trying to do the right thing and feel lost.
In the double parsha, Nitzavim/Vayelech, God is preparing the Jewish people to enter the land of Israel by reminding them of their covenant with God (Deut. 30:12-13) and tells the Israelites that the Torah that God is giving them is not in the heavens, nor is it beyond the sea, opening up the opportunity for us to find God’s teachings everywhere. Similarly to how we remain connected to our lost loved ones, this idea gives us the ability to connect with God and Torah in ways that are not so concrete, as uncomfortable as that may be for us. Just as Moses reckons with the fact that he will not be able to cross over into the land of milk and honey, after so many years of leading and teaching God’s people, we learn that the lessons and values that God taught us were never confined to a person or a scroll. They are all around us, and even more importantly they are within us.
Perhaps this is the part where God gives us permission as humans to call upon Torah as a living breathing doctrine to guide us in our life’s journey. God is telling us that Torah does not just exist on the scrolls that Moses inscribed, but also in our hearts. We are constantly called to question what the right thing is to do, which is what makes us human, but it also makes us imperfect.
These days, I find myself asking how my children will view my generation, as we individually and collectively make decisions that will undoubtedly have lasting implications for the Jewish people and our world as a whole. Like Moses, we must reckon with never knowing if our decisions today will land us on the right side of history. It took generations in the Torah for the Israelites to “get it right.”
Maybe we can find comfort in the idea that when we are up against a moral dilemma, we can go back to the Jewish values God instilled in us, specifically in how we value life and take care of others. God tells us (Deut. 31:6-8) to be strong and resolute, “[God] will not fail you or forsake you…. Fear not and be not dismayed.” So, when life is hard, I remember that God, Torah, Moses, and all those that I have lost are with me, guiding me, as I try every day to do the right thing.
Please email Stephanie Geller at sgeller@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.