Nitzavim-Vayelech Torah Thoughts

Nitzavim- Vayelech Torah Thoughts             Elul 24/25, 5773   August 30/31, 2013

We read in this portion, “And the hidden things are for Hashem (G-d), but the revealed things are for us and our children.” 

We can and may assume some religious and spiritual responsibility for one another, or at least somewhat…., and help each other. Guidance and leadership are vital!  This applies in a public manner, and we may act accordingly. Private matters are just that, and belong to G-d. In today’s modern and some-what twisted world, it is NOT the job of a government or leadership group to force thoughts or values onto us, the people, but rather to lead us. It is our own private business how we, the people act upon, and within our own homes, we may practice accordingly.  What a person does privately is his/her own business, and assuming he/she is NOT in harm’s way, we should be respectful.

Do I always agree with all the demonstrations, the marches that are made public?  Absolutely not, although I do indeed respect the coordinators, the leadership, and the time, devotion and sincere thought put into building of……..  I don’t always agree with the cause or their message, but I respect their being in public and the process.   We, the people of….we have earned that right!  

We live in a country that we have the freedom, the freedom of speech, and we have a right.  Speak out loud and express yourself, express yourself with heart, express yourself with sincere soul, speak respectfully and NOT with intent to hurt your brother or sister. 

These speeches of rights, these public demonstrations that happen in the public’s eye do indeed enter the private sphere, into our own homes.  It is our responsibility to help educate ourselves and our children in a manner around our dinner tables with respect for one another!  Do we agree with? Maybe or maybe not…. That's the privacy and the respect.

In today’s world, we see so many things that are happening, good, bad, and some very ugly.  We may see a couple kissing on the street that might be green polka dotted and the other striped, and make a comment under our breath.  Does it really, really affect you? Does it change the outcome of your day really? A man with a gun to your head, does it IMPACT YOU? YES!!!!!   Does a street closure with a bomb hurt you? YES!  Does a person holding hands walking slowly in front of you make you smile, or do you want them to just walk faster? It is our job to decipher, to really absorb and understand, to educate ourselves with in our own boundaries, and with G-d’s hand and within our own homes, to take these public matters, and think them through carefully.   It is called, RESPONSIBILITY.

 Take the REVEALED things that are spoken about in public, or acted upon, educate, recapitulate, and absorb what is the real meaning, THEN AND ONLY THEN, take it into your home, and “MAKE IT FOR G-D.”

-Amen-