Ryan Jacobs - Dvar Torah

This week’s parasha is Nitzavim, and it comes near the end of the Torah, right before Rosh Hashanah. In this portion, Moshe (Moses) is speaking to the entire nation of Israel — men, women, children, leaders, even strangers — and he tells them: “You are all standing here today before God.”

What’s interesting is that Moshe includes everyone — not just the important or the religious people — but everyone, even future generations. He reminds us that we all have a part in the covenant with God. That means: no one is left out. We all matter.

Moshe also warns the people: if they turn away from God, there will be consequences. But if they return — if they do teshuvah (repent) — then God will forgive them and bring them back.

Then comes one of the most beautiful lines in the Torah:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse — choose life.”

That’s a really powerful message. God gives us choices, but encourages us to make good ones — to choose kindness, community, mitzvot, and meaning.

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 What This Parsha Means to Me

As I become a Bar Mitzvah, I feel like I’m standing where Bnei Yisrael stood  part of something big. I’m joining the chain of Jewish people who stood at Sinai, who studied Torah, and who tried to make the world better.

For me, “Choose life” means making good choices even when it’s hard — like choosing to speak kindly, or stand up for someone, or make time for Jewish learning even when I’m busy.

It reminds me that being Jewish isn’t just something I am, it’s something I do — and I want to make those choices count.

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 A Message for the Congregation

I think Parashat Nitzavim teaches all of us three important things:

1. Everyone matters — every person in the community has a role.

2. It’s never too late to come back — teshuvah is always possible.

3. We get to choose who we want to be — and we’re encouraged to choose life, goodness, and blessing.

As we get ready for the High Holidays, I hope we all remember that we are standing together — like Nitzavim says — and we can all take one step closer to being our best selves.