When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week we read from Parashat Nitzavim (נִצָּבִים), the 51st weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings.
According to Wikipedia, Nitzavim (נִצָּבִים), Deuteronomy 29:9 through 30:30, contains 2,123 Hebrew letters, 553 words, 40 verses and makes up 72 lines of the Torah scroll. Nitzavim may be small however it carries a big message; Moses tells the Israelites they have a choice between life and death, blessing and curse, and he exhorts them to choose life by loving G-d and heeding His commandments.
Did you know that due to a quirk of the lunisolar Hebrew calendar, a “year” can vary between as few as 50 weeks in common years and as many as 54 or 55 weeks in leap years? This is why in the year 2025, Parashah Nitzavim is read separately. In contrast, for other years such as 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2027, Parashah Nitzavim is combined with the next reading Vayelech to help achieve the number of weekly readings needed. Notwithstanding, if two Sabbats fall between Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot and neither Shabbat coincides with a Holy Day, then Nitzavim and Vayelech are read separately.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Nitzavim for Shabbat, September 20, 2025 aka 27 Elul 5785:
“How appropriate it is that this week’s Sedra, Nitzavim, begins by gathering all of the Jewish people together to hear the conclusion of Moses’ review of previous 40 years and his charge to be strong and resolute. The Jewish nation is about to enter Israel and retake the promised land that is given to us by G-d as part of our covenant. Moses makes a special point to include all in his final charge- men, women, children, workers of all professions, old, young, leaders, followers, the rich, the poor, and every member of society. The key point that Moses is emphasizing is that all are blessed in G-d’s eyes with the gift of heritage and Torah. We are all given the precious land which we are about to enter which will be returned to us if we are worthy.
As we prepare to celebrate the final Shabbat of 5785, we look back at the milestones we have shared together as a holy congregation and look forward to greeting one another again to bless a new year. We will pray for a more peaceful world even as the world seems to be more prone to violent confrontation and we will pray for fulfillment, good health, and happiness even though our people are still languishing in crushing captivity in Gaza away from their families. The theme of this year is once again that although prayer and meditation are personally important, we must work harder and reach out more to include more people into our circle of friendship and caring. If this year has taught us anything it is that no one can expect to retreat into the safety and comfort and be unaffected by the plight of those who need our help. Look around! Become aware! Be more mindful of those, even in in our own families who are suffering under heavy burdens of sadness or disadvantage. Reach out! Make yourself part of the solution!
The sound of the Shofar that we will soon hear is the call to G-d to hear our prayers but is also the call of those who need us to heed their call. Incline your senses to be aware that the world needs every one of us to do better and work harder to make G-d’s world kinder and safer for all. May the end of 5785 and the beginning of 5786 increase our awareness and level of involvement and help us reach out to one another with sincere handshakes and hugs to bring us closer together.“
Questions for Discussion:
- Why does Moses invoke the memory of the matriarchs and patriarchs at this juncture?
- How does Moses speech warn against selfishness?
- What is his warning about the future?
- How does Moses teach us to uphold the Covenant with G-d?
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his smicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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