It’s Never Too Late
Parshas
Netzavim
Posted on September 28, 2005 (5765) By
Rabbi Pinchas Avruch | Series: Kol HaKollel
| Level: Beginner
“See – I have placed
before you today life and good, and death and evil…and you will choose life so
you will live, you and your offspring.” (Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:15,19) As Moshe cajoles the Jewish Nation one
last time – for it was the morning of the day he would die – to maintain their
G-d consciousness and remain true to their covenant, he reminds them of the
consequences of their decisions. At the start of the narrative Moshe made clear
that that day’s commitment was a renewal of the covenant of old. Why did he
need to reemphasize that this essential choice between good and evil is being
made “today”?
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
(1) explains that every day we have the choice of two paths to pursue, and that
day’s decision is wholly independent of the past. One who has made spiritually
corrosive, unhealthy decisions throughout life can (and should) choose that
today’s decisions will be growth oriented, spiritually nourishing and
healthful. Likewise, one whose decisions have been spiritually productive
cannot rely on past performance to guarantee future results. On any given day,
the path of evil is still present as a very enticing option; every day must
have an active decision to live with G-d consciousness. Further, when one has a
child, the educational and instructional process, from the child’s earliest
days, must be rooted in and enriched by spiritual nourishment.
As we approach Rosh
Hashanah we are easily dejected when we recall our growth goals of the past as
our limited success in meeting them over time. But we must remember who we are:
“You are children to G-d, your L-rd.” (ibid 14:1) When a rebellious subject of
a king desires to return to the kingdom the king may opt to punish the
transgressor before restoring his citizenship. But a wayward child who returns is welcomed by his parents with open,
loving arms. Our Father awaits us…it is we who must so choose.
Have a Good Shabbos and
a Sweet, Happy and Healthy New Year!
(1) 1895-1986; Rosh
Yeshiva/Dean of Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem in New York City; the leading
Halachic/Jewish legal decisor of his time and one of the principal leaders of
Torah Jewry through much of the last century
Text Copyright © 2005
by Rabbi Pinchas Avruch and Torah.org.
Kol HaKollel is a publication of The Milwaukee Kollel Center for
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414-447-7999
Personal Business Plan
Posted on September 9, 2004 (5764) By
Rabbi Pinchas Avruch | Series: Kol HaKollel
| Level: Beginner
By
Rabbi Shlomo Jarcaig
“For this mitzvah (Divine commandment) that I command you
today, it is not hidden from you and it is not distant…Rather, the matter is
very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to perform it.”
(Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:11-14) Ramban (1) explains that, “this mitzvah” is
referring to the mitzvah of Teshuva, regretting one’s misdeeds and resolving to
return to G- d’s path. On the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana, our Day of Judgment,
we remind ourselves that it is never too late to repent. “The matter is near to
you.to perform it”: everyone is capable.
Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz
(2) asked, “If the mitzvah is so easy, why don’t most people do it?” Even among
those who believe that they are being judged, many do not exert much effort to
change their ways and improve. Rabbi Shmulevitz explains that people allow the
force of habit and natural complacency to prevent them from changing. Many
people are completely unaware of their flaws simply because they never stopped
to take an objective “personal inventory” of actions and attitudes. Over time,
even the bad of which we are aware finds justification, and we do not appreciate
how much we have changed as a result of it. When we are unaware of or
unconcerned about our wrongdoings, we cannot do teshuva for them.
In the business world,
it is common to periodically reexamine progress, to analyze ones successes and
failures. By doing so, successful businesses identify methods to improve and
grow the company. A relatively small investment of time and effort in this way
produces a bounty of substantive results. This is no less true for the business
of G-d consciousness. When we set aside the time to think about our actions, we
may find that we are being selfish, impatient, critical, short-tempered, or
performing mitzvos by rote without the appropriate sincerity. Once we realize
what the problems are, we can plan and consult to chart the path to improvement
and change.
We can and must change.
When we strive and expend the effort, we will emerge different people. Through
the transformation we create and in the merit of our efforts, may we all be
inscribed in the Book of Life.
Have a Good Shabbos!
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