D'var Torah - Sept 11, 2009
09/15/09 12:40 PM
The following is the text of a d’var Torah I gave at the conservative service at Hillel on Sept 11, 2009:
Perhaps the most difficult part of preparing tonight’s d’var Torah is choosing a topic. Of course, technically, a d’var Torah is a talk on the weekly Torah portion, which this week is Nitzavim-Vayeilech. Additionally, I’m sure you are all aware of today’s date and the events that occurred 8 years ago today. Today is also the last Shabbat before Rosh HaShanah. Rosh HaShanah, in fact, begins next Friday night!! So, I will attempt to discuss all three!
We actually have two portions this week - an extra helping of Torah - describing the very end of Moses’s life. He addresses the Jewish people, and I’m going to focus on just one line. Moses tells the people: This day, I call upon the heaven and the earth as witnesses: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. You shall choose life, so that you and your children will live.
On the surface, this seems like an obvious choice, right? Most of us would choose to stay alive if given the option. And it seems like an especially poignant line today, as we remember the tragedy that occurred in our country 8 years ago. Any death, whether it’s part of a large-scale attack or a close friend or family member, is a tragedy, and it reminds us of this great gift of life that we were given. When we think about tragedy, we feel sad - perhaps, we mourn - but the sadness is also a gentle reminder of how fragile and how precious life is. The truth is that none of us actually chose to be born. We were granted this privilege without our consent. So, I believe the real choice presented to us in this week’s portion is not between life and death, but between, on the one hand, taking the easy way out - choosing the easiest or most expedient option whenever given a choice - and on the other hand, choosing the option that will lead to a more meaningful, fulfilling life.
An example: Most of us are students, albeit at different stages of our educational career. Some of you are freshman, just starting out on this voyage. We might be here for different reasons - societal or parental pressure, or whatnot - but we’re all here and now we can choose what to make of this experience. You can choose to just go with the flow, take the bare minimum requirements, and simply leave with a Bachelor’s degree, a piece of paper. Or, you can find something you’re passionate about and run with it. Of course, some of us, including me, aren’t big fans of studying, but college is not just about coursework. There’s a myriad of opportunities out there. Take a risk, try something new. It may not work out, but without taking a risk, there’s no chance of reward. Four years (or five or six... - however long it takes) go really fast. Take advantage of what’s out there, and truly live your college experience.
I promised to also incorporate Rosh HaShanah into this discussion. Shabbat comes every week, and it’s a great opportunity to sit back, put aside all your work, and just think about your week and what you want the next week to look like. That’s a large part of why I like coming to services. Rosh HaShanah goes to an even larger scale. It’s a chance to take a step back, look back on the entire year that is about to come to a close, and then look forward to the coming year. It’s a big task; luckily we have ten days from the first day of Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur to do it.
Now, some of you might not enjoy all the prayers or want to sit through the entire service. But, I encourage you to come out even if it’s only for a half-hour or an hour. It’s a great time to think about your life and whether the past year has just been “eh” or whether you truly lived this past year. There’s room for improvement in each and every one of us. Take a look at whether you feel that this past year has been truly meaningful and fulfilling. Are you satisfied with the past year? Very soon, we will be asking to be inscribed in the Book of Life. Why not go one step further and ask yourself: what can I do to inject more passion, more life into the coming year?
With that, I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom, and whatever you choose to do next weekend, I hope you have a meaningful Rosh HaShanah and a sweet new year!
Perhaps the most difficult part of preparing tonight’s d’var Torah is choosing a topic. Of course, technically, a d’var Torah is a talk on the weekly Torah portion, which this week is Nitzavim-Vayeilech. Additionally, I’m sure you are all aware of today’s date and the events that occurred 8 years ago today. Today is also the last Shabbat before Rosh HaShanah. Rosh HaShanah, in fact, begins next Friday night!! So, I will attempt to discuss all three!
We actually have two portions this week - an extra helping of Torah - describing the very end of Moses’s life. He addresses the Jewish people, and I’m going to focus on just one line. Moses tells the people: This day, I call upon the heaven and the earth as witnesses: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. You shall choose life, so that you and your children will live.
On the surface, this seems like an obvious choice, right? Most of us would choose to stay alive if given the option. And it seems like an especially poignant line today, as we remember the tragedy that occurred in our country 8 years ago. Any death, whether it’s part of a large-scale attack or a close friend or family member, is a tragedy, and it reminds us of this great gift of life that we were given. When we think about tragedy, we feel sad - perhaps, we mourn - but the sadness is also a gentle reminder of how fragile and how precious life is. The truth is that none of us actually chose to be born. We were granted this privilege without our consent. So, I believe the real choice presented to us in this week’s portion is not between life and death, but between, on the one hand, taking the easy way out - choosing the easiest or most expedient option whenever given a choice - and on the other hand, choosing the option that will lead to a more meaningful, fulfilling life.
An example: Most of us are students, albeit at different stages of our educational career. Some of you are freshman, just starting out on this voyage. We might be here for different reasons - societal or parental pressure, or whatnot - but we’re all here and now we can choose what to make of this experience. You can choose to just go with the flow, take the bare minimum requirements, and simply leave with a Bachelor’s degree, a piece of paper. Or, you can find something you’re passionate about and run with it. Of course, some of us, including me, aren’t big fans of studying, but college is not just about coursework. There’s a myriad of opportunities out there. Take a risk, try something new. It may not work out, but without taking a risk, there’s no chance of reward. Four years (or five or six... - however long it takes) go really fast. Take advantage of what’s out there, and truly live your college experience.
I promised to also incorporate Rosh HaShanah into this discussion. Shabbat comes every week, and it’s a great opportunity to sit back, put aside all your work, and just think about your week and what you want the next week to look like. That’s a large part of why I like coming to services. Rosh HaShanah goes to an even larger scale. It’s a chance to take a step back, look back on the entire year that is about to come to a close, and then look forward to the coming year. It’s a big task; luckily we have ten days from the first day of Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur to do it.
Now, some of you might not enjoy all the prayers or want to sit through the entire service. But, I encourage you to come out even if it’s only for a half-hour or an hour. It’s a great time to think about your life and whether the past year has just been “eh” or whether you truly lived this past year. There’s room for improvement in each and every one of us. Take a look at whether you feel that this past year has been truly meaningful and fulfilling. Are you satisfied with the past year? Very soon, we will be asking to be inscribed in the Book of Life. Why not go one step further and ask yourself: what can I do to inject more passion, more life into the coming year?
With that, I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom, and whatever you choose to do next weekend, I hope you have a meaningful Rosh HaShanah and a sweet new year!
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