You are standing today before Hashem

This is the final Shabbat of 5777. We have been listening to the sound of the shofar each weekday morning throughout the month of Elul. This Motzai Shabbat, we will begin the recitation of Selichot to help us take the next steps toward heartfelt teshuvah and properly prepare ourselves for Rosh Hashanah.

Truly, it is no mere metaphor when the first verse of our parshiot, Nitzavim-Vayelech, states: “You are all standing (nitzavim) this day before the L-rd, your G-d, the leaders of your tribes, your elders and your officers, every man of Israel, your young children, your women, and your convert who is within your camp both your woodcutters and your water drawers, that you may enter the covenant of the L-rd, your G-d, and His oath, which the L-rd, your G-d, is making with you this day. (Devarim 29:9-11) 

One question that captures my attention regarding this pasuk is, “Why is the statement, ‘You are all standing this day,’ written as ‘Atem nitzavim hayom,’ rather than the usual ‘Atem omdim hayom?’” After all, “omdim” is the far more common Hebrew verb for standing, and the one that is used quite frequently throughout Tanach. As such, what message is Hashem communicating to us by the use of “nitzavim?” 

Let’s look at two instances of the word “n’tziv” (“standing,” or its variants) that are found in sefer Bereishit. The first concerns Lot and his wife. They are warned not to look behind themselves at the imminent death and destruction that will befall S’dom and Gomorrah (Bereishit 19:17). But instead of listening to the words of the malach (angel), Lot’s wife casts a furtive glance behind her and is turned into a pillar of salt — a n’tziv melech (Bereishit 19:26). What is the nature of a n’tziv? It is something permanent and unmoving. Lot’s wife’s transformation from a living and breathing person into an ever-standing and silent pillar of salt is a permanent reminder that she failed to heed the words of her Creator.

The second instance of the verb “n’tziv” occurs when Avraham’s servant, Eliezer, is waiting by the well and prays to Hashem to reveal Yitzchak’s future wife to him. The Torah uses the expression, “Henah anochi nitzav al ain hamayim” (“Behold I am standing at the well,” Bereshit 24:13). Here, too, why doesn’t Eliezer simply say, “Henah anochi omed al ain hamayim?” Why does he employ the uncommon verb “nitzav?” I believe that Eliezer uses this word to teach us a crucial and fundamental lesson regarding the nature of emunah. In my estimation, he is publicly proclaiming his loyalty to his master Avraham and, ultimately, to the Ribono shel Olam.

Avraham made Eliezer take a shavuah (oath) that he would expend every possible effort to find Yitzhak a bride from his place of origin. In turn, Eliezer did his utmost to fulfill that shavuah — he would not be moved right or left for any reason. He had one course and one course only: nitzav — to stand and wait patiently for Hashem’s divine revelation to unfold. Thus, like Lot’s wife, he was standing permanently in place, albeit, for an entirely different purpose. In my opinion, this is why “nitzav,” instead of the common verb “omed,” is used. 

Given the above, I believe that our parasha’s phrase, “Atem nitzavim hayom,” imparts a crucial message. It teaches us that no matter how powerful and persuasive certain cultural norms and ideas may be, if they are opposed to the essence of the Torah and halacha, and represent the antithesis of our being an Am Kodesh (a holy nation) and the Am Segulah (the Chosen People), then: “Atem nitzavim hayom!” — We must stand fast today, and every day, in our love and devotion to Hashem and His holy Torah.

In short, no force on earth should ever remove us from being nitzavim of emunah (pillars of faith) in the house of Hashem. As Dovid Hamelech said so powerfully in sefer Tehillim 27:4: “Achat sha’alti m’ate Hashem oto avekash shivti b’beit Hashem kol yimei chayai” (“One [thing] I ask of the L-rd, that I seek — that I may dwell in the house of the L-rd all the days of my life”).

This, then, is the goal of our people — to always be “nitzavim hayom” (standing today), machar (tomorrow) and l’atid lavo (forever more) before Hashem. 

May Hakadosh Baruch Hu grant us the spiritual strength and desire to reinvigorate our relationship with Him. Moreover, during these final and fleeting days of Elul, may He grant us the wisdom and will to prepare ourselves to stand contritely and humbly before Him, so that we may be judged on Rosh Hashanah b’rachamim rabim l’chaim tovim (with great mercy for lives filled with good). V’chane yihi ratzon.

Kativah v’chatimah tovah! Tizku l’shanim rabot!