Where do you stand? This week we encounter the Israelites as they stand on the precipice of the Promised Land. They are also standing, the Torah tells us, before God about to enter into the covenant. Like the English word “stand” the Hebrew nitzavim encompasses a variety of meanings including to stand upright, to stand firm and to be stationed. Beyond the literal sense of standing, the word encompasses a sense of location, of tolerance, and of values. As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah next week, I invite you to ask yourself: “Where am I?” “What am I willing to tolerate and what will I not tolerate?” “What values are most important to me?”
– Rabbi Avi Fine
