פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים

Parshat Nitzavim is the covenant Moshe Rabbeinu makes with all of Bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel) in the land of Moav, and its call to return to Hashem and to choose life. It opens: "Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem" — you are all standing today before Hashem, from the heads of the tribes to the children, the wives and the ger (stranger, convert), from the one who chops the wood to the one who draws the water. They stand to enter the brit (covenant) of Hashem and its oath, so that Hashem establishes them as His people — a covenant made also with those who are not there that day.

Moshe warns that anyone whose heart turns to the idols of the nations, telling himself he will have peace, will not be forgiven, and every curse written in the book will rest on him. Later generations will see the land burned like Sedom and Amorah and know that it is because Bnei Yisrael abandoned Hashem's covenant. "The hidden things belong to Hashem our G-d, and the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever."

Perek 30 is the promise of teshuvah (repentance, returning to Hashem). When Bnei Yisrael, scattered among the nations, return to Hashem with all their heart and all their soul, Hashem will have mercy on them, gather them from the nations, bring them back to the land of their fathers, and open their hearts to love Him. This mitzvah is not in the heavens or across the sea: "the thing is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it." Moshe sets before them life and death, the blessing and the curse, and tells them to choose life — to love Hashem, listen to His voice and hold fast to Him. In many years Parshat Nitzavim is read together with Vayeilech as a double parsha.