Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum
On the last day of Moshe’s life, he gathered the entire nation together to renew their covenant and commitment to G-d. The most important Jew was gathered with the simplest, lest anyone claim that had he been there he would have voiced opposition.
The Talmud says that the purpose of this recommitment was for the people to accept responsibility, not only for themselves, but for each other too. A Jew is obligated to ensure that every other Jew keeps the mitzvahs too. When a single Jew sins, there is a collective responsibility upon the whole community. Had they perhaps chastised the sinner, or even better, had they acted in a more appropriate manner themselves thereby exerting a positive influence, the sinner may have never transgressed in the first place. This is what is meant by the popular phrase, “All Jews are responsible for each other.”
Moshe informed the people about the terrible consequences that would await them if they would transgress the Torah and mitzvos. He also warned them to take his words seriously and not think that they are immune to G-d’s punishment. Moshe also foretold that eventually, after much sinning and punishment, the people would be aroused to return to G-d. G-d will accept their repentance and this will lead to a Messianic era, when the nation will be gathered from throughout the exile and return to Israel with great blessing.
Moshe further encouraged the people to observe the Torah, saying that it was not too difficult for them to do so. The Torah is not in the heavens or across the seas making it too difficult to achieve, Rather it is within the capacity of every Jew to be able to accomplish, if they just put forth the effort. In closing, Moshe reminded the people that the choice of loving G-d and following His laws is nothing less than choosing between good and life, or bad and death. If the Jewish people keep the mitzvahs properly they will merit eternal life, and if they do not, the result will be death, not merely for the present but also for the future.
“...Remember us for life...and write us in the Book of Life, for Your sake, O G-d of Life’” (Rosh Hashanah liturgy)
Rav Moshe Rosenstein offered a parable. A merchant was ordering goods from his wholesaler, and in the middle of the discussion he asked for some grease to oil his wagon wheels. Shortly afterwards, another wagoner came in to the wholesaler and also asked for grease for his wheels. The wholesaler apologized that he did not deal in grease.
“But I saw you gave that other fellow,” the wagoner complained.
“You must understand,” the man replied, “That fellow orders a tremendous amount of merchandise from me, so I’m more than happy to do him a favor and throw in some grease. But I don’t even know you, and I generally do not sell grease.”
On Rosh Hashanah we pray for all good things in life, the Rav explained, but we must remember the primary purpose of life is to fulfill the will of the Al-mighty. Only then is it proper for us to make personal requests as a bonus. To merely ask for our own desires, however, is turning to the wrong address.
Did You Know...
It is incumbent for every Jewish man and woman to fast on Yom Kippur, unless he or she is seriously ill. If it is necessary to eat, one should try to eat less than the approximate size of a date. He should wait for nine minutes and again eat the same amount, and repeat this same procedure again. Although any eating or drinking is prohibited on Yom Kippur, the severity is limited to eating a portion larger than the size of a date within an average time frame. Since the Torah expresses the prohibition as a means of afflicting ourselves, the Talmud understands that eating less than this amount does not contradict the idea of affliction. Obviously, in a life-threatening situation where the patient must eat more than this amount in the allotted time, it is permitted, and even required, to do so.
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