Hashem Does Teshuva For Us:
The Rebbe of Kuzmir zy”a explains this pasuk by quoting the Gemara (Sukkah 52B) that states: “Hashem regrets four things every day...” One of those things is creating the yeitzer hara.
Charatah (regret) is one of the ways of doing teshuva. The Gemara is saying that Hashem “does teshuva” for creating the yeitzer hara by helping us do teshuva. The pasuk says: “V’shav Hashem Elokecha es shevusecha”, which can be understood to mean that Hashem will do our teshuva for us. “And He will have mercy upon us” in the sense that even though He did our teshuva for us, He will still love us as if we did it.
He adds that this is also the explanation of the verse in Tehillim 126:4): “Shuvu Hashem es shevuseinu.” (Hashem, return our captives.) This can also be translated to mean that we ask Hashem to do teshuva for us. If so, what is left for us to do? The pasuk answers: “Ka’afikim banegev” (like streams in the desert). We should be like the desert sand when water flows onto it and soak in the teshuva that Hashem does for us.
The Avodah of Being B’Simcha:
The Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz zy”a says that serving Hashem with joy and enthusiasm is called “chaim” because it makes a person lively and happy. However, if a person serves Hashem without joy and enthusiasm, the opposite is true.
The difference between serving Hashem with joy and serving Him without joy is that when one serves Hashem with simcha, he passes down his tradition to future generations, who gladly will follow in his ways. On the other hand, when one serves Hashem with no joy, his children won’t want to emulate him and they won’t follow in his way. This is hinted to in this pasuk. It says to choose “life”, i.e., a life of serving Hashem with simcha, so that you and your offspring shall live, as this type of avodah will be passed on to future generations.
Serving Hashem Shelo L’Shma Has Value:
The Baal Shem Tov zy”a says that this pasuk contains a source of encouragement for the time of the “ikvesa d’meshicha”, the generation immediately prior to Moshiach’s arrival, when it is very difficult to draw close to Hashem, do teshuva, and properly observe the Torah and mitzvos. During this generation, even serving Hashem in a less than perfect way is beloved by Hashem. If someone serves Hashem and does teshuva fully l’sheim shomayim, it is certainly wonderful. But even if one’s avodah and teshuva is only 50% l’sheim shomayim - for example, if one also has in mind that he will receive honor and glory if he learns Torah – as long as one has partial thoughts l’sheim shomayim, his avodah will be accepted by Hashem.
This is hinted to in the words of this pasuk: “Im yihiye nidachecha” (if your exiles will be). The word “nidach” can be translated to mean a far-flung person whose teshuva is not 100% sincere. Regarding such a person, it states that he is “at the end of heaven”, meaning that he only manages to be partially l’sheim shomayim. Still and all, Hashem says that He will “gather him from there” and accept his teshuva as if it were fully l’shmah.
Preparing for Rosh Hashanah With Achdus
My ancestor, Rav Mord’chele of Nadvorna zy”a (quoted in Maamar Mordechai) explains that there is an important reason why Parshas Netzavim is read on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah. This teaches us what we must do in these days, as we prepare for the awesome Day of Judgment. In the first pasuk of Netzavim it is stated: “You are standing today all of you before Hashem your G-d.” This teaches us that we must be united as one as we prepare to enter Rosh Hashanah.
The Merit of Achdus
Sefer Aron Eidus also sees a hint from this pasuk to the importance of achdus. The word “netzavim” can be seen as a reference to the Avos, as the Zohar Hakadosh states on the verse in Parshas Vayeirah: “’And behold three men were approaching (netzavim)...’ Who were these three men? Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov.”
Accordingly, the words “atem netzavim hayom kulchem” can be read to mean that when we are “kulchem” – united as one – we are comparable to the “netzavim” – the holy Avos. If we do this, we too will be able to be “netzavim”, i.e., standing firmly and strongly.
This is also seen from the Yalkut that says: “’Atem netzavim.’ When? ‘Today all of you.’ When you are all united as one group.” Again, we see that achdus is the best way to prepare for the Day of Judgment.
Achdus Like at Kabalas Hatorah
Rav Moshe of Kozhnitz zy”a (Sefer Daas Moshe) writes similarly that Parshas Netzavim is always read before Rosh Hashanah to teach us that we must stand united before Hashem on the Yom Hadin, just like we stood as one at Har Sinai.
In this vein, he explains the subsequent verse (29:12): “In order to establish you today to him as a nation and He will be to you your G-d.” “Today” refers to Rosh Hashanah. If we are a singular, united nation on Rosh Hashanah, then He will be our Master who will push away all harsh judgments and protect us.
Judging Everyone Favorably
Sefer Tiferes Shmuel also writes that we see from Parshas Netzavim that the main preparation for Rosh Hashanah is to increase love and brotherliness amongst Klal Yisroel. He cites the pasuk in Tehillim (98:6): “With trumpets and the sound of the shofar, you blow (‘hari’u’) before the King Hashem”, and explains that the word “hari’u” also connotes “rayus”, brotherliness. The pasuk is saying that if we are united as brothers during the sounding of the shofar, we will be “before Hashem”, meaning that we will reach great heights of holiness and will be safe from danger.
He further explains the pasuk in Tehillim (96:12-13): “The field and all that is therein will sing; then all the trees of the forest will sing praises before Hashem, for He has come, for He has come to judge the earth.” “The trees of the forest” are trees that bear no fruit. Thus, this is a reference to people who posses no Torah or mitzvos. The pasuk is saying that we must love and include them as well and judge even such people favorably. If we do so, we will be “before Hashem” – we will reach the level of being in His presence.
“For He has come to judge the earth” – and in this merit, we will be judged for the good on Rosh Hashanah.
For this reason, the pasuk in Netzavim says that we all should gather as one “today”, i.e., on Rosh Hashanah. It continues: “Your leaders...the wood choppers and water drawers” – every member of Klal Yisroel should be part of the united nation and everyone should be included in the bond of love and brotherhood.
Annulling Midas Hadin
The pasuk states (Tehillim 44:6): “Raise up Elokim with blowing (‘teruah’).” The Chozeh of Lublin zy”a ((quoted in Lechem Shlomo, Ois 5) explains that the word “teruah” refers to “rayus” (brotherliness). The pasuk is saying that through rayus on Rosh Hashanah, when everyone blesses all of his friends from the heart to have a good year, Hashem gets up from his chair of strict judgment and sits down on His chair of mercy. The name “Elokim” refers to the middas hadin (the Divine attribute of strict judgment), and the pasuk is saying that through the rayus shown when everyone sincerely blesses each other, He rises from this middah and switches to the Divine attribute of mercy.
Greeting The Day of Judgment With Friendship
On the night of Rosh Hashanah, the Rebbe of Karlin zy”a once said (quoted in Bais Aharon on Rosh Hashanah) that it is impossible to greet Rosh Hashanah without “rayus”, as is stated (Bamidbor 29:1): “It will be a day of teruah (blowing) for you.” (He also understands the word “teruah” to be a reference to rayus.) This is also seen from the verse (ibid): “B’echad lachodesh hashvi’i” (on the first of the seventh month). The word “b’eched” indicates that it must be with achdus.
Crowning Hashem With The Power of Achdus
The reason why increasing achdus is the best way to prepare for Rosh Hashanah is because the main avodah of the day is to crown Hashem as our king, and this can only be done through the power of unity. The Karliner Rebbe (quoted in Bais Aharon) discerns this from the pasuk (Zechariah 14:9): “On that day, Hashem will be one and His name will be one.” Everything depends on oneness. If we are one, we can crown him as the One.
The Bais Avrohom of Slonim zy”a sees this idea from the pasuk (Devarim 14:15) that states: “From amongst your brothers, you shall appoint a king over you.” This means that when Yidden act like brothers who all love each other, we will merit appointing Hashem as our king.
We see that when we are united, Hashem will emerge as our king, and He will mercifully annul all decrees against us.
Tefillos Accepted Through Achdus
Sefarim Hakedoshim say that the power of achdus is so great that it allows our tefillos to be accepted and for us to receive an abundance of goodness and blessing.
One Who Values His Friend Has His Prayers Accepted
The pasuk states (Malachi 3:16): “Then the G-d-fearing men spoke to their friends, and Hashem listened and heard it.” The Aryeh D’Brei Ilai zy”a explains this to mean that when Yidden speak to each other as friends and value each other by considering every friend to be “G-d-fearing”, then Hashem will listen and accept our tefillos.
The Benefits of Achdus
We also find that we can merit an abundance of goodness and blessing through the power of achdus.
The Kobriner Rebbe zy”a learns this from the pasuk in Tehillim (116:10): “He’emanti ki adaber.” (I believed so I spoke.) He says that “emunah” can mean dragging something down from above. Thus, the pasuk can be understood as saying that through the power of holy speech said by a united group of people, one can drag down all types of blessing from above.
Similarly, Yaakov Avinu told his sons (Bereishis 49:1): “H’asfi v’agida lachem.” (Gather and I will tell you.) Rav Osher Yeshaya of Ropshitz zy”a (quoted in Ohr Yesha, Parshas Vayechi) explains that “agidah” can mean to drag down (as in the expression “gud agid”). The pasuk is saying that through achdus one can drag down all of his needs from above.
Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Yisroel
We further find that if someone loves his fellow Jews, it is a sign that he loves Hashem.
The Maharal (Nesivos Olam, Ahavas Hareya, Perek 1) writes: “Loving people is also a form of loving Hashem. One who loves someone loves all that He creates. Therefore, one who loves Hashem loves His creations. But if one hates people, it is impossible for him to love the one who created those people.”
Knowing What a Friend Needs
It is related (in Sefer Siach Sarfei Kodesh) that Rav Dovid of Lelov zy”a would learn lessons regarding middos and mussar from all people, in fulfillment of Chazal’s statement (Avos 4:1): “Who is wise? He who learns from every man.” He would say that he learned a lesson about how friends should relate to each other from a conversation between two non-Jews that he overheard.
He related that he once heard one non-Jewish farmer ask his friend, “Do you love me?”
The friend answered that he did.
The farmer replied, “You are lying. If you really loved me, you would know what I am lacking right now. You would know which teeth hurts me right now. If you don’t know this, you clearly don’t love me.”
From this story, we see what true love between friends is. A true friend must know what his friend is lacking so that he can help him.
Like One Body
Rav Yechezkel of Kuzhmir zy”a once went to visit Rav Bunim of Peshischa zy”a. When he went to take leave of Rav Bunim, the Rebbe escorted him for quite a distance, until they reached the outskirts of the city.
Rav Yechezkel then turned around to escort Rav Bunim back towards his house. As they were walking, Rav Yechezkel took out his box of tobacco and gave it to Rav Bunim to sniff.
Rav Bunim asked, “How did you know that I needed ‘a shmek tabak’ right now?”
Rav Yechezkel answered, “When you pick up the tobacco to your nose, how do you know that your nose needs ‘a shmek tabak’? Obviously, it is because it is part of your body, so you know what it needs. So too, when two people love each other they become like one body, and they feel what their friend needs.”
Seeing The Good in Every Man
An important part of loving one’s friends is seeing their positive aspects, rather than their deficiencies. When one does this, he is able to form a close bond. But if one pays attention to his friend’s negative qualities, he won’t be able to connect with him.
This idea is found in Sefer Me’ohr V’Shemesh (Parshas Vayelech), who writes: “The main shoresh of avodah is to love every Jew, both old and young, and even people who have turned away from the good path should be loved for the good qualities found in them... and then the impure forces will be unable to harm us and fear of Hashem will be increased as a result.”
Establishing Rosh Hashanah
Rav Yisroel of Tchortkov zy”a (Sefer Ohr Yisroel) explains the pasuk of “Atem netzavim hayom” to mean: “You establish the day!” (The word “netzavim” means to stand up or establish, and the word “hayom” is a reference to Rosh Hashanah.) He explains that when Klal Yisroel establishes Rosh Hashanah as a day to accept the ohl malchus shomayim and they do teshuva, then “they are all before Hashem”, and they will all be blessed with a good year.
Good Advice is Better Than Chiddushei Torah
The Chiddushei Harim zy”a once asked Rav Menachem Mendel of Vorka zy”a why the pasuk says “from your woodchoppers to your water drawers.” Why are woodchoppers mentioned before water drawers?
Rav Menachem Mendel answered, “Chotev aitzecha (woodchoppers) actually refers to people who give ‘eitzos’ (advice) to help their fellow Jews in times of need. That is a more distinguished thing to be than ‘a water drawer’, which refers to those who draw out the waters of Torah by creating chiddushei Torah.”
Thanking Hashem For Helping a Friend
An important part of achdus is davening for one’s friend’s success. An even higher level is thanking Hashem for granting success to one’s friend in a manner that shows that one cares more about his friend’s wellbeing than his own. When one does this, he will merit his own success as well.
It is related that a shopkeeper once cried to Rav Moshe of Kobrin zy”a that he had very little parnassah. He said that very few customers came into his store. On the other hand, the neighboring store sold inferior merchandise but had a lot of customers and made a big profit.
Rav Moshe told him, “I guarantee you that if you are happy for your friend when you see that he has a lot of customers and you thank Hashem for giving him parnassah then you too will have an abundance of livelihood. It may be hard you to do this with a full heart, but once you do it once, it will become easier. Once you start saying it with your mouth, your heart will begin to truly feel it.”
