NITZAVIM
By HaRav Dov Begon, Head of Machon Meir
The Nations’ Rebirth is the Foundation of Great Repentance
“All the prophets commanded Israel to repent, and only through repentance can Israel be redeemed” (Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 7:5). Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai explains that Rambam is referring to the total repentance of Israel that will take place after they return to Eretz Yisrael (Kitvei HaRav Alkalai, page 324).
This interpretation jibes with Deuteronomy 30:2-5: “You will return to the L-rd your G-d… The L-rd will then bring back your remnants and have mercy on you. He will once again gather you from among all the nations…. He will then bring you to the land that your ancestors occupied, and you too will occupy it.”
Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, as well, explains that “the rebirth of the nation is the foundation of the edifice of the great repentance, the lofty repentance of Israel and the repentance of the whole world which will follow” (Orot HaTeshuvah 17:1). In accordance with Deuteronomy 30:6, which continues, “The L-rd will remove the barriers from your hearts and from the hearts of your descendants, so that you will love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and soul,” Israel’s repentance will be “repentance out of love, greater than any other form of repentance” (Or HaChaim, Ibid.).
There is personal repentance, which consists of an individual repenting from his sins. To do so he must confess his sins, express contrition, and resolve not to sin in the future. There is also the general repentance of the Jewish People which begins with Israel’s returning to the Land of Israel (Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai, Ibid.).
Right now, we are in a period of the ingathering of the exiles, about which the sages said, “Great is the day of the Ingathering of the Exiles, but difficult as well” (Rashi, Ibid.). We are at the start of the great return, the start of the formation of the nation in its land after two thousand years of exile. As is known, all beginnings are hard. We are in the stage of, “I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). The day is not far off when the continuation of the prophecy will be fulfilled as well: “Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean…. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you” (Ibid., v. 35-36).
The Jewish People in their rebirth may be compared to a newborn infant. At first, the parents worry about the infant’s physical needs — that it should gain weight and grow. Later, when the child has grown and become a lad, his main development is spiritual.
It is the same with the Jewish nation. The Ingathering of the Exiles is part of Israel’s physical development. In the next stage, the nation will progress onward to issues involving its spirituality and destiny, i.e., the historic destiny of the nation. That destiny will involve them spreading light to the world and being benevolent to them, as in G-d’s blessing to Abraham, “You shall become a blessing…. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3).
VAYEILECH
“I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean.”
Regarding the words, “He will reconcile His people to His land” (Deuteronomy 32:43), Rashi explains that days will come when G-d will reconcile His people to His land for the troubles that befell them and that were caused by their enemies.
Regarding the question of what connection there is between G-d’s land and His people, Rashi continues, “And what is His land? His people. When His people receive comfort, His land, too, receives comfort, and so, too, it states (Psalm 85:2), “You have been favorable, O L-rd, to Your land. You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.”
Today, we are approaching the Days of Awe, which are days of reconciliation, days of kindness and mercy, whose climax is Yom Kippur, the day on which Israel are purified before their Father in Heaven. As Rabbi Akiva said:
“How fortunate you are, O Israel. Before whom are you purified? Who purifies you? Your father in Heaven, as it says, ‘I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean’ (Ezekiel 36:25)” (Yoma 85b).
And when will G-d sprinkle clean water upon us so that we can be purified — in the generation of the ingathering of the exiles, for it says, “I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24) — and only then — “I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean. From all your uncleanness and all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.”
How fortunate we are and how good our portion, that we are privileged to be living in such a generation, in which we are seeing with our own eyes how myriad of our people Israel are returning to Eretz Yisrael. In Eretz Yisrael, they are being purified and are returning to the synagogues and to the study houses spread almost everywhere. As for our enemies, who are jealous of the ingathering of Jacob, through them shall be fulfilled the divine promise, “Let the nations sing praise to His people” (Deuteronomy 32:43).
Rashi explains, “At that time [when G-d takes vengeance on them], the nations will praise Israel, saying, ‘How praiseworthy this people is, that they clung to G-d amidst all the troubles which befell them and did not forsake him. They knew His goodness and excellence.’”
This merit of the steadfast devotion of the Jewish People and the Land should protect us on this Yom Kippur, which is approaching for goodness.
May we all be signed and sealed for a good life and for peace.
