This time of year is special for me as a time for solitary reflection in shul contrasted with being surrounded with friends and family, many of whom I have not seen for a year. Rosh Hashanah starts as a ‘warm up,’ reminding me to take stock of all that I have done leading into Yom Kippur, when I continue praying and evaluating my efforts.  I inventory my life, my family and my accomplishments and try to plan how I can positively change or build. The song of Moses in this week’s parsha, Ha’azinu, is that very voice inside of me—and, I suspect, inside of many of you as well.

Ha’azinu is the second-to-last of the year and the last parsha read on Shabbat. The people of Israel are given their instructions by Moses while he is on Mount Nebo. Moses knows he will not cross the Jordan River: “You may view the land from a distance, but you shall not enter it – the land that I am giving to the Israelite people” (Deut. 32:52). The ‘song of Moses, ‘ ha’azinu,  is a prophetic and appropriate echo of our own voices in shul, reminding us of our accomplishments and to build on them, yet also reminding us of missteps so as not to repeat them. 

What if we could share our own private observations with our friends and family, and the greater community? Moses had this opportunity, just as a dying parent can impart wisdom and observations to their children. But would they listen? 

Ha’azinu means ‘listen in.’ How appropriate that the Israelites heard the final words of Moses before they entered their new homeland. How frightening it must have been for all who heard his words, yet at the same time, how exciting it must have felt to begin a new adventure. They must have been filled with great promise and hope with all the new opportunities beyond the horizon. Would the message be lost in the waters of the Jordan and the hills of Judea and Samaria? In new endeavors, the excitement of the moment often drowns out the voice of caution and experience. The overall message of Ha’azinu is not to be complacent with your success as you begin a new adventure. 

In our own lives, we should approach new beginnings with the same amount of caution, yet learn from those who have come before us. As a community, we are so fortunate to have resources with which we can strengthen our Jewish world, both locally and abroad. This year, we launched a new format to engage our NWP board members through class gatherings and a new curriculum. We value the importance of growing and learning together. We encourage all to step outside the box and learn from each other. But have we become complacent with our successes, and have we truly reached everyone in our community? Have we really translated the objectives of NWP into meaningful programs that provide the best impact for our communities? This opportunity gives us a new venue to reach within ourselves to nurture our intellect, spirit and soul.

Take time after Yom Kippur to take stock of the past year and plan for the new. We need your enthusiasm and commitment and, yes, your passion to bring our message so that others will hear it. We, too, should listen in, since our individual growth is just as important as that of those we seek to enrich. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Robin