Turning With Awe

This week is Shabbat Shuva – the Sabbath of Turning, or Repentance. It comes between the civil new year, Rosh Hoshannah, and the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. This is a special Shabbat as it gives space to consider and contemplate our relationship with G!d and others. The entire high holiday season encompasses various aspects about our relationship with G!d (creation, joy, repentance, atonement, harvest, provision, Torah), but each holiday therein brings something special to our understanding of this season anew each year.

The parsha this week, Vayelekh, recounts how Moses took the words of the L!rd to Israel, including passing on the leadership of the people into the land by Joshua. This is a bittersweet speech by a leader who is not able to guide the people he has been with for so long on the final part of their journey. Perhaps this verse near the beginning is to also encourage the speaker:

“Be strong and resolute, be not in fear or in dread of them; for the L!rd your G!d himself marches with you: He will not fail you or forsake you.”

 It is no wonder, then, that Joshua repeats these words constantly, since Moses also speaks them directly to him.

A flower in the Jezreel Valley

This portion is intriguing – it relates direct exchanges between Moses and the people to whom he was passing his leadership, but it also vividly predicts the future disobedience of the Israelites which would lead to their exile. This, of course, is appropriate for us to remember on this Sabbath of Repentance. We should learn from our mistakes and those of our ancestors.

During the Second Temple Period, the community would gather the entire community, including the king, in order to obey this parsha’s command to read the Torah in the hearing of all the people. Many sages and scholars have linked this commandment to the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai – an instance to recall these events and remember what G!d has done for his people.

“Seek the L!rd while he can be found,

Call to him while he is near.”

This is the message from the normal haftorah – which still stirs images of repentance during this special Sabbath. There are, however, special haftorah passages because of the importance of this Sabbath. These portions come from Hosea, Micah, and Joel.

“He who is wise will consider these words,

He who is prudent will take note of them.

For the paths of the L!rd are smooth;

The righteous can walk on them,

While sinners stumble on them.”

“Who is a G!d like you,

Forgiving iniquity

And remitting transgression;

Who has not maintained his wrath forever

Against the remnant of his own people,

Because he loves graciousness!”

“Then the L!rd was roused

On behalf of his land

And had compassion

Upon his people.”

This Shabbat Shuva we remember our transgressions, G!d’s mercy, and the everlasting covenant that has been made between us and the L!rd. Shabbat Shalom!