By Rabbi Dovid Sapirman, Dean, Ani Maamin Foundation
This year, we are reading Parshas Nitzavim on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah—how timely! The last three sections of the parsha all deal with themes very relevant to Rosh Hashanah: the long-awaited era of Mashiach, the mitzvah of teshuvah, and one of our greatest gifts from Hashem: the ability to choose freely between good and evil.
Chazal tell us in the name of Hashem, “On Rosh Hashanah, recite statements of kingship, to accept Me as king over you.” The essence of Rosh Hashanah is our kabbalas ol malchus shamayim. Once Mashiach comes, we will finally experience the ultimate kingship of Hashem. Then the world will be filled with knowledge of Him, everyone will recognize Him, and all evil will cease.
A glance at the tefillos of Rosh Hashanah reveal this as a theme of the day. “Elokeinu v’elokei avoseinu—reign over the entire world in Your glory.” “Place fear of You upon all Your handiwork, and Your awe upon all Your creations.” Those who are truly loyal to their king long to see his dominion extend far and wide.
And what does it mean to be a loyal subject? It means obedience to the laws and decrees of our king. If we have strayed, the solution follows immediately: there is a mitzvah to do teshuvah. From the beginning of time, Hashem has given people the opportunity to correct their mistakes. Even in a person’s last moments, his repentance will still be accepted.
When the Rambam discusses free will, he concludes his explanation—and then immediately remarks that just as we have the ability to make the wrong choices, we have total free will to do teshuvah, and no one and nothing stands in our way if we are sincere. Not only that, but Hashem extends His hand, so to speak, to help all those who genuinely seek to return.
Throughout the era of the Neviim, the prophets pleaded with the people to do teshuvah, to make themselves worthy of all the good that Hashem wished to give them. Let us not pass up this gift!
A kesiva v’chasima tova to all.
