This week, we read the double Torah portion, Nitzavim-Vayeilech. Nitzavim in particular is jam-packed with “good stuff”, including a pretty intense pep talk from Moses to the Israelites as they continue their preparation to enter the Promised Land. This text, which we will read again on Yom Kippur, declares:
לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא לֵאמֹר מִי יַעֲלֶה־לָּנוּ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְיִקָּחֶהָ לָּנוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה׃ וְלֹא־מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִוא לֵאמֹר מִי יַעֲבׇר־לָנוּ אֶל־עֵבֶר הַיָּם וְיִקָּחֶהָ לָּנוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵנוּ אֹתָהּ וְנַעֲשֶׂנָּה׃כִּ י־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ׃
It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?” No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.
(Deuteronomy 30:12-14)
Here in Deuteronomy we are told that we do not need to reach high into the sky, or out to sea, in order to reach Torah. As Jews, we acquire strength for ourselves from the Torah’s teachings, history, and wisdom. Instead of trying to stretch beyond our reach, this text reminds us that we can look closely within ourselves, and the Torah we hold close, for this strength.
It’s an interesting contrast to the Book of Genesis, where we read the story of the Tower of Babel. In that story, we—humans—assume we need to reach up to the sky, close to the heavens, to acquire strength and build a name for ourselves. From almost the very beginning of the Torah to almost the very end, we encounter two moments that have opposite goals. One striving to reach the heavens with the goal of acquiring strength for humanity, and one telling us that we don’t need to look any further than our own hearts, where the strength dwells within. Perhaps instead of working together to build a tower in pursuit of strength from high above, humans must first turn inward to see our own strength and then look to each other to recognize the strength of each individual in our midst.
— Yael Farber, Rabbinic Intern