Nitzavim – Standing Tall

Rashi quotes the Midrash Tanchuma on the first verse of Parshas Nitzavim: Why is the section beginning with the words, "You are standing this day," put in juxtaposition to the curses in the previous chapter? Because when Israel heard these ninety-eight curses besides the forty-nine that are contained in Vayikra, their faces turned pale (they were horrified), and they exclaimed, "Who can stand against these?!" Therefore, Moshe began to calm them: "See, you are standing today before Hashem!" Many times, you provoked Hashem to anger, and yet He has not destroyed you, but you continue in His presence היום THIS DAY – like the "day" which endures forever, for though it becomes dark for a period it shines again, so has He made you shine and will again make you shine.

Imagine standing there at this most momentous gathering, hearing Moshe deliver the curses for not following Hashem. When the Nation reacts in horror, Moshe’s response is, “Don’t worry, you have angered Hashem before and survived, you will be okay.” What kind of response is that from Moshe, and why are the people comforted by such a response? This Parsha is called Nitzavim, which means 'to stand.' Although it is one of the first few words of the Parsha, there is possibly a much deeper reason for this name that may help explain the answers to our question.

Falling and Standing Back Up

The Passuk in Mishlei states, "A righteous man falls seven times, and rises." Both the Metzudas David and the Malbim interpret this to mean that even though they may fall, the righteous will always get back up. Indeed, the defining trait of a righteous person is not their immunity to failure, but their steadfast resolve to persist in the struggle. They invariably rise and stand firm. This insight is vital to consider as we enter the Yimei Hadin, the Days of Judgment. As human beings, we encounter challenges. We occasionally fail to realize our full potential, yet these instances of failure do not define a person. The true measure of an individual lies in their actions following a fall.

We have previously noted that life is a continuum of fluctuations between highs and lows. There are periods when a person finds success in various aspects of their life, and there are also times when they feel as though they are failing. Consider a store that evaluates each day as if it were isolated from the others. Any given day could potentially be the day when the business must cease operations due to its failure to achieve expected objectives. Yet, a perceptive business owner understands that success is gauged through patterns and trends. This principle applies even more profoundly to life itself. An individual should not evaluate their life based on an isolated moment or situation; life should be assessed based on the trends and patterns that accompany a person over a significant period.

True Encouragement

A person who earnestly seeks personal advancement understands that they possess flaws and embraces these imperfections as pathways for growth. They regard their shortcomings as opportunities for development and advancement rather than as signs of inadequacy. Just as muscles are strengthened by being challenged during physical training, an individual grows through adversity and trials, and indeed, even through their failures.

Upon hearing of the severe calamities that would strike them for failing to serve Hashem correctly, the Jewish people felt disheartened. How can we possibly endure, given our human nature, which is fraught with failures and missteps? Moshe addresses this by highlighting their true potential. Despite having provoked Hashem numerous times during their journey through the Desert, they have continually risen and strived for improvement. This resilience and capacity to recover from failures have resulted in Hashem refraining from destroying them for their transgressions. While Hashem does not require perfection, He does expect us to keep striving.

Let us embrace this message and perceive our deficiencies as unique opportunities designed for our development. May the forthcoming year be one of self-improvement and the pursuit of becoming the best version of yourself.