Meaningful Guarantees
Nitzavim
The last four Parshiyos of the Torah are the parting words of Moshe Rabbeinu to Bnei Yisroel on the day that he would leave this world. Parshas Nitzavim commences with Moshe entering the Jewish people into a covenant with Hashem. This covenant solidifies Hashem’s responsibility to the Jewish people as their G-d. It also binds Bnei Yisroel to Hashem, to serve Him alone and to fulfil His commandments.
The commentaries question the purpose of this new covenant; after all a similar Bris known as the covenant of Arvos Moav had just been made in last week’s Parsha and before that at Matan Torah on Har Sinai. The Ohr Hachayim explains that this covenant introduced the additional dimension of Arvus - to bind the Jewish people in responsibility to one another. No longer would every Jew be liable only for his own performance of the Mitzvos. Rather every Jew became mutually responsible for their fellows’ service as well.
The covenant opens with the words Atem Nitzavim Hayom - You are (all) standing here today. Moshe proceeds to list 10 unique social stratas of the Jewish people - from the heads of their tribes down to the lowly water carriers. Moshe’s words address them all. The word Nitzavim also denotes appointment. Moshe appoints each Jew, no matter what their level, as being responsible for their fellow; to inspire, rebuke, teach and encourage them in keeping the Mitzvos. As the Gemora says Kol Yisroel Areivim Zeh B’zeh - each Jew is responsible one for the other.
Concerning this Arvus, the Rebbe asks a very simple question. The word Areiv means a guarantor. In Halocha as in standard loan procedures, a guarantor does not just vouch for the borrowers ability to pay. They also obligate themselves to cover the debt in the event of default on the part of the borrower. If the guarantor lacks the wherewithal to cover the loan, they would not qualify as a suitable Areiv. Yet the Torah appoints even the lowly individuals (vis-à-vis their fulfilment of Mitzvos) as guarantors for even the leaders of Klal Yisroel!
We cannot underestimate the value of each Jew: No matter how lowly or spiritually void they may appear, their soul possesses deep spiritual assets which makes a unique spiritual contribution on behalf of the entire community. This is analogous to a body: Even though the head is the leader and controller of all of the various limbs, even the lowly leg contributes to the head - for without the leg the head would be unable to move! So too every Jew has unique qualities possessed by no other. With these ‘assets’ even the lowliest individual is fit to serve as a guarantor to one who appears more spiritually wealthy than he.
Moshe’s final message in this covenant was the importance of Achdus - unity and brotherly love. Like the limbs of a body, we as individuals are really part of one unit. Our fellow’s failings or their achievements are our own shortcomings or successes (and vice versa).
The Kli Yakar points out that when Moshe describes the entering of Bnei Yisroel into the covenant L’ovrecha BiVris he uses the singular term. The novelty of this covenant is its emphasis on mutuality and unity. Areivim can also mean mixed together.
The fate and actions of our people as a whole and every Jew individually, is intertwined one with the other. At our soul-root we are all connected. Areivim can also mean sweet or pleasing. When we see every Jew as a part of ourselves, they become “pleasing one to the other”, deserving our unconditional love and respect.
Chassidus connects the word Hayom to Rosh Hashona - the day of judgment. When we stand as one people, morally, physically and spiritually responsible for each other we are assured that Nitzavim - we will stand firm and victorious in our judgment. In the Rosh Hashona Davening we say and they will all form a single bundle to carry out Your will with a perfect heart. Just as a bundle of sticks is much stronger than individual twigs so too the synergy created when we stand as one gives us incredible strength. When Hashem sees His children stand in unity, He will surely bless us all with a Kesiva Vechasim Tovah.
The commentaries question the purpose of this new covenant; after all a similar Bris known as the covenant of Arvos Moav had just been made in last week’s Parsha and before that at Matan Torah on Har Sinai. The Ohr Hachayim explains that this covenant introduced the additional dimension of Arvus - to bind the Jewish people in responsibility to one another. No longer would every Jew be liable only for his own performance of the Mitzvos. Rather every Jew became mutually responsible for their fellows’ service as well.
The covenant opens with the words Atem Nitzavim Hayom - You are (all) standing here today. Moshe proceeds to list 10 unique social stratas of the Jewish people - from the heads of their tribes down to the lowly water carriers. Moshe’s words address them all. The word Nitzavim also denotes appointment. Moshe appoints each Jew, no matter what their level, as being responsible for their fellow; to inspire, rebuke, teach and encourage them in keeping the Mitzvos. As the Gemora says Kol Yisroel Areivim Zeh B’zeh - each Jew is responsible one for the other.
Concerning this Arvus, the Rebbe asks a very simple question. The word Areiv means a guarantor. In Halocha as in standard loan procedures, a guarantor does not just vouch for the borrowers ability to pay. They also obligate themselves to cover the debt in the event of default on the part of the borrower. If the guarantor lacks the wherewithal to cover the loan, they would not qualify as a suitable Areiv. Yet the Torah appoints even the lowly individuals (vis-à-vis their fulfilment of Mitzvos) as guarantors for even the leaders of Klal Yisroel!
We cannot underestimate the value of each Jew: No matter how lowly or spiritually void they may appear, their soul possesses deep spiritual assets which makes a unique spiritual contribution on behalf of the entire community. This is analogous to a body: Even though the head is the leader and controller of all of the various limbs, even the lowly leg contributes to the head - for without the leg the head would be unable to move! So too every Jew has unique qualities possessed by no other. With these ‘assets’ even the lowliest individual is fit to serve as a guarantor to one who appears more spiritually wealthy than he.
Moshe’s final message in this covenant was the importance of Achdus - unity and brotherly love. Like the limbs of a body, we as individuals are really part of one unit. Our fellow’s failings or their achievements are our own shortcomings or successes (and vice versa).
The Kli Yakar points out that when Moshe describes the entering of Bnei Yisroel into the covenant L’ovrecha BiVris he uses the singular term. The novelty of this covenant is its emphasis on mutuality and unity. Areivim can also mean mixed together.
The fate and actions of our people as a whole and every Jew individually, is intertwined one with the other. At our soul-root we are all connected. Areivim can also mean sweet or pleasing. When we see every Jew as a part of ourselves, they become “pleasing one to the other”, deserving our unconditional love and respect.
Chassidus connects the word Hayom to Rosh Hashona - the day of judgment. When we stand as one people, morally, physically and spiritually responsible for each other we are assured that Nitzavim - we will stand firm and victorious in our judgment. In the Rosh Hashona Davening we say and they will all form a single bundle to carry out Your will with a perfect heart. Just as a bundle of sticks is much stronger than individual twigs so too the synergy created when we stand as one gives us incredible strength. When Hashem sees His children stand in unity, He will surely bless us all with a Kesiva Vechasim Tovah.