“You are standing today… “(Devarim 29:9)

The Medrash tells us that the words “Atem nitzavim” at the beginning of this week’s parsha are in response to the curses in last week’s parsha. Last week, Parshas Ki Savo, Klal Yisrael heard the Tochacha, what was being demanded of them, and the punishments that they would have to face if they did not follow the Torah’s directives. Moshe Rabbeinu comforted them by saying, “You are standing here today,” meaning, “You made it this far, so you can continue to be successful at keeping the Torah.” Moshe recognized that sometimes a person looks at the mammoth obligations that he faces, becomes overwhelmed and loses confidence that he can truly achieve what is necessary. That is the point that someone else must step in and give encouragement—just as Moshe Rabbeinu did, telling Klal Yisrael, “You can do it!”

As Rosh Hashanah looms closer, and the repentance process seems daunting, some people might have thoughts of giving up. We may need to have an infusion of extra strength to deal with our obligation to repent properly. This is provided by strengthening our program of teshuva, starting this week on Motza’ei Shabbos with selichos.

However, I would like to draw a different parallel. “Corona” has been with us for about half a year and many of us are disheartened, not seeing any end in sight. Our Kehilla’s prayers on Rosh Hashanah— the location and maximum capacity—are still up in the air! I would like to say to the kehilla, “Atem nitzavim hayom”. We as a kehilla, Baruch Hashem, have merited to stay together and have our minyonim with good cheer and safety for most of this past half year.

As we intensify our avoda, and we see the punishments that have been inflicted upon us over the last six months, we must keep in mind that it is our obligation to make the upcoming year different and better than the last.

May we stand up to the challenge, acknowledge it is our responsibility to help change the situation, and realize that the only way we will stay healthy is by the Grace of G-d. We cannot blame any government or health official, whether they are right or wrong. It is a diversion tactic of the yetzer hara to distract us from fervent prayer. May we stand strong this coming Rosh Hashanah and merit to have the pandemic removed from us.

The word “magefah” has been tossed around a great deal recently, and many people think of the prayer “unesanah tokef” when they hear this word. The author of this prayer was brutally punished by the Catholic Church, and composed this prayer as a statement that he accepted upon himself the Ultimate Judgement from Hashem. This prayer has a tradition that it can move Hashem from the “Chair of Justice” to the “Chair of Mercy”. If we accept the responsibilities of last year and not blame others, we can also appreciate the “tokef kedushas hayom” – the holiness of this day, and we too can stand assured that Hashem will listen to our plea.