Nitzovim – Ingathering
By Rabbi Yosef Serebryanski
(Deuteronomy 29:9) “You are standing today, all of you.” The Onkelos translates “standing” to mean “living”. You exist to do the will of the Creator. The Creator spread the Jewish people among the nations in a variety of ways. There is a great challenge faced by the Jews in establishing a relationship with the nations of the world. Yet, this is in order to serve the will of the Creator.
(Deuteronomy 30:1) “And you will return to your heart (while you are) among all the nations that He spread you out there.” Interesting that the Hebrew word used for “spread out” also means washed. In other words; he spread you out in order to cleanse you. Once the purpose of having the Jewish people among the nations is complete, it is written (Amos 9:9) “I will shake the House of Israel out from among the nations.”
Many Jews wanted to be like the nations and not humbly submit themselves to the will of the Creator. (Deuteronomy 17:14) “You will say, I will place a king over me like all the nations that surround me.” (Samuel 8:4-8) “The Elders of Israel gathered and came to Samuel. They said appoint for us a king, like all nations. It was bad in the eyes of Samuel. Hashem said to Samuel, listen to the voice of the people, it is not you they rejected but Me.” This also applies to creating a state of Israel that is run like the other nations.
Many Jews want to be like the other nations. This blocks the Jews and the other nations from “coming” to Hashem. Especially since the Jews who are corrupted also corrupt the nations. Yet, when Jews return to their origin, and do what the Creator wants, this opens an opportunity for people from the nations (if they so desire) to connect with the Creator.
(Psalms 82:8) “Arise, Elohi-m, judge the earth, for you will seek Your inheritance among the nations.” From those among the nations includes the Jews who live among the nations. There are many among the nations who seek eternal truth but cannot find it as there is no one to show them what and where it is. Hashem sees into the heart (Samuel 1, 16:7) and therefore knows the intentions of the heart of each person.
Furthermore, for the Jewish people:a (Brocho Vesholom page 1,570) “when Hashem is the judge then He will give you the ability to inherit the aspects of the nations that you are feeling connected to in your heart.”
(Deuteronomy 30:3) “Hashem will gather you from among the nations that He scattered you there.” This also applies to those (who live like the other nations) in the physical land of Israel as well. May we merit to see that (Psalms 82:1) “Hashem stands in the congregation of God.” And to experience (Exodus 14:13) “Stand and see the salvation of Hashem,” and that (Genesis 28:13) “Hashem stands on him,” with each person who is connected.
