“If you don’t know where you are going, you‘ll end up someplace else.” ― Yogi Berra
It is the last Shabbos of the year and Rosh Hashanah is around the corner. Where are we in comparison to a year ago and where do we want to be next year at this time?
In this week’s Parsha, Nitzavim, Moshe is speaking to the people as he is about to die and pass on the leadership to Yehoshua. The Parsha begins “Atem Nitzavim Hayom” you are standing today. Rashi comments that Moshe had them stand because the leadership was about to be passed on. The same was done later by Yehoshua and Shmuel when they passed their leadership on. What is the big deal that they had to stand at this time and that it is so important that Moshe has to make note of it?
Rabbi Yissocher Frand quotes Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch who explains that Standing does not literally mean standing up as opposed to sitting. It refers to the concept of remaining in one place. We are all busy people and are running from one thing to another. How often do we stop and reflect on our lives and think about our goals and what is important in life. If we want to achieve our goals, we first have to define them and then map out a plan for how to reach our destination. But who has time for that?
There are certain times in our lives when we hit a milestone and we are more aware that we are making a major transition. It could be a graduation, getting married, the birth of a child. All of these are times for us to stop and reflect on what will be different, what could be different, what should be different. We don’t have to wait for a milestone. We have an opportunity every week – Shabbos. Built in to our lives is a day to stop the presses and slow down. It is an opportunity to think without all the distractions of our daily routine. On Rosh Hashanah we have another opportunity. It is our annual milestone. Parshas Nitzavim is read the week before Rosh Hashanah. As we read about Moshe telling the people to stand in place, we too are reminded to stop and reflect on our lives and our goals to ensure that we are headed in the right direction for the coming year.
