Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim Vayeilech 5784

Parashat Hashavua: As If You Bound Yourselves

The gemara (Rosh Hashana 16a) states: “Blow the shofar before Me so that I will remember the binding of Yitzchak, the son of Avraham, and I will consider it for you as if you bound yourselves.”

Why does Hashem, who does not forget things, need a reminder? Also, couldn’t we mention the bindings (i.e., those who have been killed for being Jews) from those times until and including these days, in which case we could tell of those who were not only willing to give their lives (like Yitzchak), but actually did give their lives? Jewish blood is treated as worthless – no one cares what happens to us. The entire nation lies “bound to the altar.” In fact, we are not just being bound but being killed in practice. Hashem swore in His own Name “if it is not with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and a flowing rage that I will rule over you” (Yechezkel 20:33).

However, it is not Hashem’s will [to act so harshly], rather just that we should be prepared to “bind ourselves.” That is Hashem’s intention. He wants that our love of Hashem that is burning within us should be such that we disregard and belittle the world’s apparatuses to take Jewish lives.

On this day of Rosh Hashana, we should blow the shofar, to remind us about the binding of Yitzchak. This was a binding that came willfully, where the participants gave up their own being, on behalf of the effort to sanctify Hashem’s Name. It is that we need to remember. From Hashem’s perspective, he suffices with considering it as if we “bound ourselves.” In other words, all the many victims should be considered as if the victims gave their lives of their own will. If so, the merit would definitely increase, the power of the Satan would automatically wane, and the kingdom of evil would pass like smoke from the land.

We should view ourselves as being found in the same hell that our brothers in the field of battle are, in the camps of detention, captivity, and suffering, as well as in the hospitals (ed. note – the world did not yet know about extermination camps). Let us join in, out of will, in the same feeling of anguish and excruciating pain, which is abnormal for human beings, as our brethren who are sanctifying Hashem’s Name. Let us consider the horrible feeling of the skies closing their gateways, as the pasuk says: “You covered Yourself with a cloud so that the prayers will not reach You” (Eicha 3:44). Let us force open the heavens with the strength of dedication and willingness to give.

We are indeed representatives. We are representatives of the community of the Nation of Israel, including those who are homeless, those who are forced to hear the blasts of war, whether those who are fighting in battles or those who are rotting away in jails. We must bring this great pain and sighing into the sound of the shofar blasts.

Chazal teach us: “A year that is poor in its beginning brings riches in its end” (Rosh Hashana 16b, based on the spelling of Devarim 11:12). May this year see the end of our troubles and the beginning of our liberation!    

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