Nitzavim-Vayeilich: From Rebuke to Redemption: The Power of Collective Responsibility

By Mordy Blau

What is the remedy after receiving the tochecha? In the previous section of the tochecha in Bechukotai, the parsha concludes with an affirmation of our connection to Hashem. However, last week’s parsha offers no pesukim to soften the punishments for going astray. If someone were to yell at you, you would want the conversation to end on a positive note. Last week’s parsha ends with nothing of the sort! Why? Does our parsha answer this question? 

The first two pesukim of this week’s double parsha read as follows:

אַתֶּ֨ם נִצָּבִ֤ים הַיּוֹם֙ כֻּלְּכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י ה' אֱלֹקיכֶ֑ם רָאשֵׁיכֶ֣ם שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֗ם זִקְנֵיכֶם֙ וְשֹׁ֣טְרֵיכֶ֔ם כֹּ֖ל אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

The Torah continues, 

טַפְּכֶ֣ם נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וְגֵ֣רְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֶ֑יךָ מֵחֹטֵ֣ב עֵצֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד שֹׁאֵ֥ב מֵימֶֽיךָ׃

Moshe gathers the people before he passes away, as they prepare to enter Israel without him. Before they go in, Moshe wishes to leave them with the blueprint for how to live as Jews. Our parsha is a description of that covenant before entering Israel. 

However, what struck me in this pasuk was the language and the listing of eight groups of people. The pasuk begins with "אַתֶּם" and continues with "כֻּלְּכֶם" standing before Hashem. Then, at the end, we say "כֹּ֖ל אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל". Sandwiched in the middle, we have the tribal heads, elders, and officials, and the next pasuk mentions women, children, a convert, a woodchopper, and a water drawer.

What is the necessity of listing all these groups? Are they not included in "כֹּ֖ל אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל"? Does this not represent everyone in Israel?

The Or HaChaim explains that the covenant that Moshe is introducing is a brit that involves the responsibility we have toward other Jews — the idea of ערבות. In last week’s parsha, we read the tochecha, which outlined all the calamities that would befall the Jews if they did not follow the Torah. As we mentioned before, there was no follow up. It is logical to then assume that Bnei Yisrael were afraid of what the future entails.

With these concerns in mind, Moshe introduces the concept of responsibility within our nation, emphasizing that we are not alone on our Jewish Journeys. He calls out "כֻּלְּכֶם" — “all of you” — to come together, demonstrating that we are part of an amazing nation where we bear mutual responsibility for one another, helping to observe mitzvot and avoid sin.

But the question remains: why single out different groups of people? If we are one nation with shared responsibility, why are we divided into categories? Doesn’t this create a social hierarchy, with some being seen as lesser? If I’m a woodchopper, how can I be there for a businessman? He doesn’t need me!

Moreover, didn’t we already come together at Har Sinai? We know the often quoted and famous pasuk of כאיש אחד בלב אחד! We all answered נעשה ונשמע together! So why another brit? 

The Or HaChaim explains that Moshe divides the people into groups to emphasize that regardless of status, everyone can influence others. “רָאשֵׁיכֶ֣ם” refers to those in positions of leadership who have the opportunity to influence the entire nation. Women can influence their families and neighbors. Children can influence their peers, siblings, and classmates. Even common laborers, at the bottom of the social hierarchy, can impact those around them. Hashem asks us to influence where we can. He does not demand the impossible but expects nothing less than what is possible.

Up until now, each person in Am Yisrael said נעשה ונשמע together, as a united front but there was no longer commitment of us holding each other accountable. Imagine a teacher in a classroom. They are going over a really hard math problem and then the teacher asks everyone in the class to say “yes” if they understood the answer. Everyone responds “yes” in unison. They are all on the same page but this doesn’t mean the class is going to be there for the guy who doesn’t understand the next question. 

This brit teaches us that we all have a responsibility toward one another. Each person’s role is different, and we all have the ability to help those around us grow and succeed.

So what’s the response to the tochecha? To come together. Everyone has their own way of contributing. So as we start our reflections, think, when was the last time I reached out to people in the chevra. Life gets busy and it gets hard to keep in touch. This idea is teaching us that in order for us to be successful in our lives we must stay connected to others. So this weekend, take the chance to think and reach out. Through this ערבות, IY”H we will merit a favorable גזר דין and witness the coming of Mashiach!

Shabbat Shalom and Good Shabbos!