Saturday, September 24, 2022

CHUCK KOLB

 

לשנה טובה ומתוקה L'shanah tovah u'metukah
To a good and sweet new year 5783

Rosh Hashanah 2022
In 2022, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Sunday, Sept. 25
and ends at sundown on Tuesday Sept. 27.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/rosh-hashanah-2022/

Rosh Hashanah is known by several names, one of which is Yom Teruah ...
https://stbm.org/rosh-hashanah/


Tashlich, the Symbolic Casting Off of Sins
A Rosh Hashanah ritual for the whole family
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/tashlikh/
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/text-of-tashlich/
“He will take us back in love; He will cover up our iniquities.
You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19


Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Nitzavim - Choosing Life in Adversity !!!

Previously posted ...
Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Ki Tavo (When You Enter) - The Blessing in Being a Blessing !!!
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/09/chuck-kolb_17.html
Situation Updates 9/18/22 Super Shemitah - 9/24 Collapse - Clot Pull - Shambhala
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/09/chuck-kolb-situation-updates_18.html
Situation Updates 9/19/22 DeSantis vs DOJ - Remdesivir - Biden Domestic War - Target Earth
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/09/let-no-corrupt-communication-proceed.html
Situation Updates 9/20/22 Fauxi Down - Sex Indoctrine - The Shortage - Pop Depop
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/09/be-glad-then-ye-children-of-zion-and.html
Situation Updates 9/21/22 WW3 - Ideological Subversion - Planned Illusion - Committee 300 - Yuri KGB
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/09/all-saints-salute-you.html
Situation Updates 9/22/22 Putin WW3 -  Injected - Gene Decode - No Return Point
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/09/chuck-kolb-situation-updates_22.html
Situation Updates 9/23/22 FL Cane - Apocalypse - Bad Bots - Barr Lies - China Spies
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2022/09/chuck-kolb-situation-updates_23.html


These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Luke 12:37
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph 5:11
I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. I will never forget thy precepts:
for with them thou hast quickened me. Psalm 119:60,93
The war against Truth has been raging ever since
evil was expulsed from the realm of Heaven.  
God instructed Pharaoh, "Let my people go."
God instructs us, "Let my people know."
Shema Y'israel - Maranatha !
Na'aseh V'nishma  
✡ ✡ ✡

כבוד שם יהוה Baruch Hashem Adonai
לשבור לחם ביחד Shabbat Shalom Mishpacha  

#ShabbatShalom - Welcome to Nitzavim (You Are Standing), this week's Torah portion.
This is the portion that we will be reading during Shabbat (Saturday) services.
Please follow along as we study this week's Parasha.  We know you will be blessed!

Last week, Parasha Ki Tavo (When You Enter) concluded with Moses telling the people that 40 years after they had attained nationhood, they still had not acquired “a heart to know, eyes to see and ears to hear” all that Adonai had done for them throughout their wilderness journey.  In this week’s portion, Parasha Nitzavim, the Lord confronts the people to choose now His way of life and blessings, or the pagan way of death and curses. God sets before the Jewish People two diametrically opposed choices: life and good, or death and evil (et ha’chayim v’et ha’tov; v’et hamavet v’et hara). Just as a good father might instruct his son or daughter as to the best decision to make, God implores His children to choose life.

You can view this Parasha on our website complete with embedded links ... 
Parasha Nitzavim: Choosing Life in Adversity

https://free.messianicbible.com/parasha/parasha-nitzavim-choosing-life-in-adversity-5782/


Forgiveness, Selichot, and Preparing for the High Holy Days
https://free.messianicbible.com/holiday/elul-preparing-for-the-high-holy-days/

No One Else Brings Salvation but Yeshua
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/one-else-brings-salvation-yeshua/

Are You a Jew? The Answer Might Surprise You
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/are-you-a-jew-fname-the-answer-might-surprise-you/

Revelation and Na'aseh V'nishma
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/11880
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/do-first-understand-later/
We will do and we will listen to all that God has declared. Exodus 24:7

When to Celebrate Yeshua HaMashiach's birthday ...
The Joy of Tabernacles when Yeshua was Born
http://conpats.blogspot.com/2019/10/chuck-kolb-10142019.html
How Yeshua was born on the Feast of Tabernacles by Rabbi Yitzchak
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/how-yeshua-was-born-on-the-feast-of-tabernacles/

English to Hebrew to English lookup
https://context.reverso.net/translation/hebrew-english/
https://www.doitinhebrew.com/Translate/default.aspx
https://english-hebrew-dictionary.com/
https://alittlehebrew.com/transliterate/  
https://yiddishkeit101.wordpress.com/category/hebrew-word-of-the-day
The Best Jewish Words You Need To Know: A Yiddish and Hebrew Glossary
https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/the-best-jewish-words-you-need-to-know/
https://www.brighthubeducation.com/studying-a-language/58611-yiddish-expressions-for-the-holidays/
https://hebrew4christians.com/Glossary/glossary.html
A Living Library of Jewish Texts in Hebrew and English translation
https://www.sefaria.org/   https://dictionary.co.il/   https://www.hebrew-verbs.co.il/
https://www.mechon-mamre.org/

Torah Teasers Parshat Nitzavim by Moshe Erlbaum
https://www.aish.com/tp/i/teasers/Torah-Teasers-Parshat-Nitzavim.html


Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Ralph Messer ...
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash - Joy of God’s Teaching and Instruction

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.  2 Timothy 3:16

What Does It Mean to Choose Life? Every decision you make can be made in a way that you are “choosing life.”
The Torah is God’s constitution; it is His teaching and instruction; it is eternal and it is life.
His Spirit is pure Light, abundant with untouchable, supreme, sovereign power.
God is the Source of all life.

נִצָּבִים  Nitzavim means “you are standing.” 

Moses gathered all of the Israelites together and told them they were standing before the Lord their God to enter into covenant with Him. God has given you the freedom of choice to choose life—so that you and your children may live. Not only do you benefit from choosing life, but your children benefit as well.  Your attitude and approach towards life has a bigger impact on you and your children than you may realize. Every decision you make can be made in a way that you are “choosing life.”  How do you treat your family on a daily basis?  How do you treat your friends, strangers, and animals?  How do you spend your money?  What do you do with your free time?  What do you spend your time thinking about?  What kind of advice do you give to others?  Do you think about what you say before you say it?  These are all choices you make that can be done in a way that produces a full, meaningful life, not merely a life of “existence.”
https://stbm.org/nitzavim/

2022 STBM Fall Events
https://stbm.org/2022-fall-events-with-stbm/

Arrive a half hour+ early for starting lessons ...
Online> Saturday Shabbat (9:00am ET / 12:30pm ET) Services and Midrash  
Online> Monday Nights with STBM 8:30pm ET  / Thursday Afternoon> 3:00 pm ET
Learn more about special event streaming when you call our team! 866-867-2488
https://stbm.org/live/ - https://www.youtube.com/c/RalphMesser/videos
https://stbm.org/study-home/  https://stbm.org/rrm-subscriptions/  https://store2.torah.tv/  


Todah Rabah - Dr. Gary Hedrick ...
Reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel
https://www.cjfm.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/
Charles Halff - What It Costs a Jew to Become a Christian
https://store.cjfm.org/product/146/what-it-costs-a-jew-to-become-a-christian


Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Richman ...
Weekly Torah Study: with Rav Gedalia Meyer
Temple Talk with Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Abba Horovitz
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTempleInstitute/videos
https://www.facebook.com/The-Temple-Institute-22738684968/
https://www.instagram.com/thetempleinstitute/ - https://twitter.com/TempleInstitute
https://www.templeinstitute.org/ Weekly Newsletter - 35 years  
The Mystery of the Red Heifer: Divine Promise of Purity
https://templeinstitute.org/red-heifer/

Temple Talk Radio: The Red Heifers Have Arrived!
vid> https://youtu.be/dbrCt9h8r2o (34:58) 9/20/22

Jerusalem Lights - Rabbi Chaim Richman
https://www.youtube.com/c/JerusalemLightsRabbiChaimRichman/videos


Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Jachter ...
Kol Torah Academy of Bergen County 

Parashat Nitzavim / Rosh HaShanah 2022/5782
Parashat Ki Tavo - 28 Elul, 5782 - September 24, 2022
https://www.koltorah.org/articles/?category=Nitzavim-VaYeilech
https://www.koltorah.org/by-parashah  https://www.koltorah.org/about-us
https://www.koltorah.org/rav-jachters-halachah-files
Books > https://www.koltorah.org/books
From Chaos to Kingship: An In-Depth Exploration of Megillat Rut
https://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Kingship-Depth-Exploration-Megillat/dp/B0B14ZP8N2
Yeshiva > https://www.tabc.org/  https://www.instagram.com/koltorah.tabc/
TABC Parashat Nitzavim / Rosh HaShanah
https://www.koltorah.org/s/Kol-Torah-Nitzavim_Rosh-HaShanah-2022.pdf (4 page pdf)


Parshat Nitzavim

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3078/jewish/Nitzavim-in-a-Nutshell.htm
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default.asp?tDate=9/24/2022  
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/month_cdo/jewish/Jewish-Calendar.htm
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/converter_cdo/aid/6225/jewish/Jewish-Hebrew-Date-Converter.htm


Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Naphtali “Tuly” Weisz ...  

https://israel365.com/  https://www.israel365news.com/
https://www.israel365.com/about/  https://theisraelbible.com/
https://theisraelbible.com/bible/torah/  https://theisraelbible.com/blog/
 
The Portion of Nitzavim
https://theisraelbible.com/portion-nitzavim/
https://theisraelbible.com/book-deuteronomy/

The Dramatic Paradox of the Hebrew New Year
https://theisraelbible.com/the-dramatic-paradox-of-the-hebrew-new-year/

A Nation As Bad As Sodom??
https://theisraelbible.com/a-nation-as-bad-as-sodom/

UK prime minister considering moving embassy to Jerusalem
https://www.israel365news.com/275013/uk-prime-minister-considering-moving-embassy-to-jerusalem/

The 39 Acts Forbidden on the Sabbath
https://theisraelbible.com/the-39-acts-forbidden-on-the-sabbath/
https://theisraelbible.com/the-true-day-of-rest/

Anti-Semitism is on the rise in the United States.
Stand with 100,000+ people who stand with Israel.
https://www.israel365.com/the-israel-covenant/

ACLJ Petition - Jay Sekulow
Stop Biden IRS From Spying on You and Your Bank Account
https://aclj.org/government-corruption/stop-biden-irs-from-spying-on-your-bank-account
 
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DONALD DATES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Trump  
Tiffany 10/13/93
Ivanka 10/30/81  

Full Speech > President Donald Trump Rally Live in Youngstown, OH - 9/17/22

vid> https://rumble.com/v1kia79-full-rally-president-donald-trump-rally-live-in-youngstown-oh-91722.html (1:45:41)

President Donald J. Trump
Save America Rally in Wilmington, NC
Fri, September 23, 2022 - 7:00 pm (EST)

https://events.donaldjtrump.com/events/save-america-rally-in-wilmington-nc

Save America Rally in Warren, MI
Sat, October 1, 2022 - 7:00 pm (EST)
https://events.donaldjtrump.com/events/save-america-rally-in-warren-mi

Watch > https://rumble.com/c/RSBN RSBN  
Events > https://www.donaldjtrump.com/events
https://rumble.com/c/DonaldTrump Donald J. Trump

****************************************

Good News From Israel - Achievements and Heartwarming Stories
In the 11th Sep 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/2022/09/israels-good-news-newsletter-to-18th.html
http://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/

Mishpacha Jewish Family Weekly
https://mishpacha.com/

 For Keeps: Rosh Hashanah Theme 5783
When our worlds changed beyond measure, we held tight to this one thing
https://mishpacha.com/for-keeps-rosh-hashanah-theme-5783/

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Todah Rabah - beloved Ted Belman writing from Jerusalem, Israel for 20+ years ...  
THERE IS NO DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
Israel should declare three nos;
no to nuclear Iran, no to two-state solution, no to bi-national state  
 

Dr. Jordan Peterson interviews Amb Ron Dermer
Arabs vs Jews? Maybe Not
DERMER IS UTTERLY FANTASTIC. DON’T MISS THIS.

vid> https://youtu.be/gODDs5Auqfc (1:47:43) 9/15/22  Jordan B Peterson
https://www.israpundit.org/arabs-vs-jews-maybe-not-ambassador-ron-dermer/

Ukraine’s war crimes in Donbass – shelling of civilian areas since 2014

vid> https://youtu.be/xt4j5mZneFY (19:58) 9/22/22  Redacted
https://www.israpundit.org/ukraine-is-committing-war-crimes-in-donbass-constant-shelling-of-civilian-areas/

Dr.Robert Malone: Suppress, Silence, Skew and Censor
“Space is no longer the final frontier–reality is.”

Propaganda, skewed study results and pysops, what could go wrong?
https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/suppress-silence-skew-and-censor
https://www.israpundit.org/dr-malone-suppress-silence-skew-and-censor/

The Two State Solution is no more
>> https://www.israpundit.org/63684392-2/
The Jordan Option Conference Videos reposted
>> https://www.israpundit.org/the-jordan-option-conference-videos/
https://www.israpundit.org/jordan-past-present-and-future-the-jordan-option-revisited/
>> The Jordan Option, plain and simple
https://www.israpundit.org/the-jordan-option-plain-and-simple/
>> The Jordanian Option is the only game in town
https://www.israpundit.org/my-jordan-option-is-the-only-game-in-town/
>> The Ultimate Alternate Israel-Palestine Solution by Ted Belman
https://www.israpundit.org/the-ultimate-alternate-israel-palestine-solution-3/

Kindly donate to support the work I do
by Ted Belman

https://www.israpundit.org/please-donate/

****************************************
 
Quest For The Lost Tribes - Full Simcha Jacobovici Documentary
vid> https://www.bitchute.com/video/jbB2ELq4xPw/ (1:33:29) 8/18/19
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovici
12 Tribes of Israel: The Shevatim

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3798842/jewish/12-Tribes-of-Israel-The-Shevatim.htm
https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/blog/who-are-tribes-judah


Welcome to Kashrut Malchut Shamayim
In this week’s parsha Nitzavim,
we learn that the mitzvot “is not beyond you, nor is it remote from you. It is not in heaven . . .
It is not across the sea . . . Rather, it is very close to you, in your mouth, in your heart, that you may do it.”
EnJOY our Heart Stew (don't worry we are talking vegetables).
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/a-hearty-shabbat-menu/

לשנה טובה ומתוקה L'shanah tovah u'metukah
To a good and sweet new year 5783

 
From יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yerushalayim
Get Clarity: Aish.com’s Rosh Hashanah Music Video
https://youtu.be/vCYRM7KYJY4 (2:38) AishVideo


Fail-Safe Last-Minute Rosh Hashanah Recipes
Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken

https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/sheet-pan-harissa-chicken/
7-Minute Prep Simanim Recipes For Your Rosh Hashanah Menu
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/7-minute-prep-rosh-hashanah-recipes/
12 Show Stopping Rosh Hashanah Mains
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/12-show-stopping-rosh-hashanah-mains/

Rosh Hashanah Hacks
https://engage.aish.com/rosh-hashanah-hacks/

Summer Fruit Medley with Cinnamon-Ginger Reduction
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/summer-fruit-medley-with-cinnamon-ginger-reduction/

Spanish Sweet-Potato Rice with Honey-Lime Marinated Chicken
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/spanish-sweet-potato-rice-with-honey-lime-marinated-chicken/

Strudel Is Back
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/apple-raspberry-rose-strudel/

TIME IS RUNNING OUT for Israel’s Hungry
https://meirpanim.org/high-holidays/

I believe this! ...
One million Israeli children are hungry.  
Yad Ezra V’Shulamit has been dedicated to feeding Israel’s
hungry children and families for the last 25 years
Jamie visits Yad Ezra V'Shulamit
vid> https://youtu.be/95bFhoflBbY (6:56)  Yad Ezra V'Shulamit   
https://www.youtube.com/user/yadezrafeedsisrael/videos

Jamie Geller Reunites with Heroic Farmers in Jerusalem
To keep the biblical mitzvah of shmitah   
vid> https://youtu.be/uDwO31572as (36:30) 5/15/22 JG
$180 donations receive my new Farm to Table Cookbook
https://campaigns.causematch.com/SupportOurFarmers
http://supportourfarmers.org
vid> https://player.vimeo.com/video/660942292 (10:42)
FREE Farmers-Guide-for-Produce (7 page pdf)
https://tinyurl.com/Farmers-Guide-for-Produce

Vegan Recipes
https://jamiegeller.com/search?query=vegan+recipes  
https://jamiegeller.com/browse/the-best-crowd-pleasing-vegan-appetizers/
Cook the 21 Most Popular Recipes of 2021
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/cook-the-21-most-popular-recipes-of-2021/

This is Where You Can Find Me Most of the Time
JewLish - One People - Many Flavors

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpomjPnHcZ/
https://www.instagram.com/jamiegeller/
https://www.facebook.com/jamiegeller
https://www.facebook.com/jewlishbyjamie/
https://www.youtube.com/c/jamiegeller/videos
https://jamiegeller.com/

Joy of Aliyah 
http://jamiegeller.com/tag/joy-of-aliyah/
https://jamiegeller.com/tag/joyofisrael/
Jamie Geller Welcome's You
vid> https://youtu.be/XO-owES713c (0:35) JG 
Lots of 💕 Jamie - Until next week Shabbat Shalom from Israel ! 



The answer is, it's made with love from Israel ! 
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-jewish-food-memories/
My Love Affair With Jerusalem
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-love-affair-with-jerusalem/

Jamie's Honey Collection
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/779DC156-2368-4FA4-A098-872BBC7F03D2

Jerusalem Street Food with Jamie Geller Spices
vid> https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/CluuvDpk-FSMnt4zj.html (10:56) JewLish   
Machane Yehuda - https://jamiegeller.com/browse/a-haute-market-in-jerusalem-the-shuk/
https://jamiegeller.com/browse/4-israeli-desserts-inspired-by-the-shuk-in-jerusalem/

The Jamie Geller Spice Collection: Now Available Worldwide!
Sending you love and my heartfelt wishes for peace, from Israel.
New Trio of Pilaf Mixes - Mujadara Lentil, Festive Herb and Jeweled Almond
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jamie+Geller/page/55E36343-CF6F-4E88-A4D5-D7C1C0274F7F
https://www.amazon.com/shop/jamiegeller  

Babies, Books, and a Billion Views: My Decade in Review
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/a-decade-in-review/

Best of the Best w Hubby - Family Heirloom Cholent ...
vid> https://youtu.be/Ae2-lQVFsGw (12:01) 8/11/11 JG classic
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/family-heirloom-chulent/
https://jamiegeller.com/blogs/cholent/

Jamie at Aish - Chief Media & Marketing Officer
https://www.aish.com/authors/48868432.html
How You Can Make the Future Brighter
vid> https://youtu.be/fclstyB-1rA (2:48) Aish
https://www.youtube.com/c/Aishdotcom/videos

Free Hebrew course Aleph Bet
This entire four-lesson course in 30 minutes.
https://academy.aish.com/course/aleph-bet

The Influence of the Hebrew Bible on America's Founding Fathers
vid> https://youtu.be/jE6Sqh-kezw (7:15) J-TV
https://www.aish.com/jl/h/h/The-Influence-of-the-Hebrew-Bible-on-Americas-Founding.html
Serpents of Desire: Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. An Introduction
https://www.aish.com/jl/b/eb/ge/48966101.html

Jamie Hanala Geller

https://jamiegeller.com/author/jamie-geller/
Tamar Genger MA, RD
https://jamiegeller.com/author/tgenger/
Titles by Jamie Geller
https://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Geller/e/B001JS2GV8/
https://jamiegeller.com/blogs/
Download the Sweeter Than Honey eBook
https://engage.aish.com/sweeter-than-honey-ebook/
The Ultimate Challah - free eBook
https://koshernetwork.ac-page.com/pinterest-challah
Modern Israeli Kebobs - free eBook
https://koshernetwork.acemlnc.com/lt.php?s=a476321cee1a62660d5e43a07fe84c19&i=109A824A1A5341
Join My Way Better Cooking Class with Jamie Geller
https://get.waybetter.com/jamiegeller/
Jamie's Quick & Easy Shabbat Menu App
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/exclusive-jamie-gellers-menu-plans/
https://www.prepear.com/jamiegeller/cookbooks/quick-and-easy-shabbat-menus/
Fresh Families Healthy Meal Plan
https://www.prepear.com/jamiegeller/meal-plans/fresh-families-healthy-meal-plan/
LIVE Series: FEED YOUR SOUL
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/feed-your-soul/
 

You are all standing this day before the Lord, your God 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 Lord, your God, and His oath, which the Lord, your God,
is making with you this day, Deuteronomy  29:9–11



Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Nitzavim - Choosing Life in Adversity !!!


Torah and yad pointer
  
Shabbat Shalom
 
Welcome to Nitzavim (You Are Standing), this week's Torah portion.
 
This is the portion that we will be reading during Shabbat (Saturday) services. Please follow along as we study this week's Parasha.  We know you will be blessed!
 
NITZAVIM (You Are Standing)
Deuteronomy 29:9 (10)–30:20; Isaiah 61:10–63:9; Romans 10:1–21
 
“You are standing [nitzavim] today in the presence of the Lord your God.  You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God.”  (Deuteronomy 29:10–12)
 
Last week, Parasha Ki Tavo (When You Enter) concluded with Moses telling the people that 40 years after they had attained nationhood, they still had not acquired “a heart to know, eyes to see and ears to hear” all that Adonai had done for them throughout their wilderness journey.  (Deuteronomy 29:24)
 
In this week's portion, the Lord confronts the people to choose now His way of life and blessings or the pagan way of death and curses.
 

A 13-year-old Jewish boy reads the Torah for the first time publicly from
the bimah in a synagogue.  (Photo by dutchboy)
  
Free to Choose Good
In Parasha Nitzavim, God sets before the Jewish People two diametrically opposed choices:  life and good, or death and evil (et ha'chayim v'et ha'tov; v'et hamavet v'et hara).
 
Just as a good father might instruct his son or daughter as to the best decision to make, God implores His children to choose life.
 
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
 
This verse provides an incredible insight into
the purpose of the Torah.
 
God gave the Scriptures to us as a guide so we know what is good and what is evil; nevertheless, it is up to each of us to either live according to God’s Word by accepting the good and rejecting the evil or to live according to the dictates of our own heart and the current cultural perspective or worldview.
 
This is the concept of free will that God has given to mankind.
 
One ancient Jewish Bible commentator, Rashi, cites a story, or midrash, in the oral tradition (in the treatise Niddah) about the angel responsible for conception who asks God whether the child will grow up to be strong or weak, wise or foolish, rich or poor.
 
The angel, however, never asks God if the child will become wicked or righteous, since God may determine the circumstances of one’s life but the decision to choose the good path or the evil one has been left up to man’s own free will.
 

The handwritten Hebrew of a precious Torah scroll.

Free to Choose Life in Adversity  
While it is not possible to control all the circumstances that affect our lives, we can determine how we will react to them.
 
It might be easier to be happy or be nice when everything is going well, but there is no guarantee that we will be happy or nice even in the midst of good times.
 
Likewise, tragic circumstances do not have to shake us from our firm foundation so that we lose faith in God and become miserable and bitter.
 
One Messianic Prophecy Bible team member tells the story of an older woman whose son had passed away from cancer, leaving behind a lovely young wife with three small children.  
 
“They were an observant, Orthodox Jewish family, and I wondered how they would react to such a terrible tragedy,” she said.  “It was then that I overheard the woman speaking to a friend on the phone.  Her words were full only of honor toward God, frequently uttering,
Baruch Hashem
 (Blessed be His Name)
.
 
"It reminded me of how Job was able to say, 'He gives and He takes away.  Baruch Hashem,' after losing his health, his children and his livelihood."  (Job 1:21)
 

An Orthodox Jewish woman stands near a fresh grave on the Mount of
Olives in Jerusalem.
 
A famous psychologist and Holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl, wrote in his book Man’s Search for Meaning about humankind's ability to exercise free will during the horrific circumstances of the Nazi concentration and death camps.
 
Although we might expect that a person would be incapable of acting in kind, moral, humane ways under such terrible conditions, Frankl reports in his book that this was not the case; he observed many examples of heroic individuals.
 
Frankl wrote, “[These men] offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way . . .”  (pp. 86–88)
 
Even under extreme physical and emotional stress, we can choose our behavior — whether to love and forgive — or
remain in hatred and bitterness.
 

Jewish women and children walk toward the gas chambers at
Auschwitz-Birkenau.
 
Most of us will never have to endure such brutal conditions, but each one of us will be presented with choices throughout our lives.
 
We must choose whether or not to be courageous, unselfish and faithful; or bow to fear, fight for our own way, and lose our human dignity, especially during serious adversity.
 
Our morality and ethics will be tested at various times throughout our lives.  We cannot plead, as did some of the Nazis charged with war crimes, who defended themselves saying, “I had no choice. I was just following orders.”
 
The truth is that we always have the ability to walk in accordance with the values of the Torah or to walk along that broad path that leads to destruction.
 
We would do well to consider carefully our ways as we prepare to enter into the Days of Awe this weekend.
 

Two Orthodox Jewish girls walk in the Old City of Jerusalem.
 
Free to Return to God
Sunday night begins a ten-day period called Days of Awe (Yamim Nora’im) that ushers in Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish calendar New Year 5780) and ends with Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
 
These ten days are meant to be a period of somber introspection during which time we pray for forgiveness of our sins — and ask for forgiveness from those we have sinned against throughout the year.
 
The repentance required at the time of these upcoming Fall Feasts of the Lord is meant to bring each person back to God.
 
In Yeshua's day, people came to Yochanan (John the Baptist) at the Jordan River during this season of preparation for the Fall Feasts, to be immersed in the mikvah (baptized).  There, he warned them that they must produce fruit demonstrating their repentance.
 
“John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.’”  (Luke 3:78)
 

A Jewish man blows the shofar on Erev Rosh
HaShanah (Jewish New Year's Eve).

The Hebrew word for repentance, t’shuvah, comes from the root shuv, meaning return.
 
In other words, when we choose the path of sin, evil and death, it leads us out of the presence of God.  And when we repent, we return to the presence of God.
 
We learn in this Parasha, that the result of unrepented sin for the Israelites would be even more than personal separation — it would also be national exile.
 
But Baruch HaShem, exile is not the end of the story.
 
In this Parasha, God tells the Israelites that those who will be scattered into exile due to sin, would be gathered back to the Promised Land when they returned to Him.  And after He gathers and returns them to their own land, He would bless and prosper His people Israel.
 
“When you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where He scattered you.”  (Deuteronomy 30:2–3)
 
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