Even though the title of this blog is Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech. I would like to take a few moments and share a few different ideas, ideas that might look unrelated to the Torah portion, as if I’m walking in circles, literally, choosing to start with the Jewish calendar below, but it will all make sense at the end which is really the beginning, like Rosh Hashanah. Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech has a personal meaning to me, not because it is the very last Torah portion before Rosh Hashanah, but because it was The Torah Portion that was read all over the world on the week I was born. What? yes I know, it doesn’t make sense now, but if you’ll keep on reading it will. Let’s start drawing our first circle of understanding
The Jewish Calendar
Creating a “Jewish calendar” was the first mitzvah (commandment) the Jewish nation received from G‑d, the commandment to determine the New Moon, after they left Egypt, and to insure Passover will always be celebrated in the Spring. The Hebrew calendar is used in Judaism to set the dates of the Jewish Holidays, weekly public reading of the Torah, it is also used to set the date for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, the day a young person is considered an adult in Judaism. It sets the Yahrziet, the anniversary of the death of a relative, the daily Jewish prayer service etc. Living Jewishly is connected, related and based on The Moon calendar.
The Moon versus the Sun
The Jewish calendar is based on the lunar month, with 354 days in a year, versus the Gregorian, sun-solar-based calendar, with 365 days in a year, 11 days difference between the two. Another important note, Shabbat enter on Friday eve, that is why we welcome Shabbat on Friday night, in the Jewish calendar a day actually begins on a day before at sundown, and not at midnight. According to Jewish tradition, your mazal (good fortune) is very powerful on your birthday.
Who had the very First Jewish Birthday Ever?
According to Jewish tradition, your mazal (good fortune) is very powerful on your birthday. The Jewish year starts on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, on the first day of Tishrei. This year, on the eve of September 18th, the year 5781 will begin. Based on the Bible, 5,781 years ago, the very first human walked the earth.
Who had the very First Jewish Birthday Ever? Adam. Adam is the name of the first human, and also the name of all of humanity. On the sixth day of creation, after G‑d finished creating the world. The heavens and earth, sun and moon, plants and trees, beasts, fowl and fish. Adam was the very first person to walk the earth. Adam was created on the first Friday, and on that same day, G‑d formed and breathed life into Eve. I will not get into the two Creation versions of the world, yet there were two different Creation stories written in the book of Genesis.
What are we celebrating on Rosh Hashanah?
When you google Rosh Hashanah, this is one of the images that will show up in search. Needless to say, Rosh Hashanah, The head of the year, is much more than that.
Rosh Hashanah, is not observed on the day when the world was created, but six days later, as told in the Bible, when everything truly began. When a human walked the earth for the very first time. I never thought about it in this way, but we actually celebrate Adam and Eve’s birthdays every year. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, may be viewed as the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and because it is the day when Adam and Eve were created, it is the birthday of humankind.
Apples are everywhere!
Apples are everywhere. Not only on Rosh Hashanah. We consume apples daily. Sometimes it feels like, we’re being consumed by apples as well. I love apples. Organic green ones, organic red ones, expensive silver ones from the Apple store, Apple computers, Apple laptops, staying in touch with family and friends via Apple’s iphone. Apples are everywhere! Isn’t it interesting that one apple was the reason Adam and Eve were punished and expelled from the Garden of Eden, and on their birthday, which is Rosh Hashanah, we eat lots of apples dipped in honey?! and enjoy it too.
My first Torah
I remember receiving my first Torah book, from Chabbad in Bnei Brak, Israel, at the end of 1st grade, learning a simplified version of the story of the Garden of Eden, one of the most known stories found in the book of Genesis (Bible). It explains how Adam and Eve, the first humans, sinned, the snake (witch) tempting Eve (Snow white) to take a bite of the forbidden fruit, an apple from the tree of knowledge (Good and Evil), they were separated from G-d and were expelled from paradise.
Similar story line between the Garden of Eden story and the Snow white fairy tale, I can’t help but wonder, is there also a connection to Apple’s computers logo of a bitten apple…. am I connecting apples … I mean dots? is it all random coincidences?!
My Birthday
Your birthday is your personalized Rosh Hashanah.
According to Jewish tradition, your mazal (good fortune) is very powerful on your birthday.
I don’t remember ever celebrating or having a birthday party when I was a child. I don’t remember receiving birthday gifts as a child. There are a couple of birthday pictures when I was in Gan Shulah (Pre-K), and understandably, as I was a toddler, I don’t really have a conscious memory of it.
Israeli Birthday party essentials
I know that it might sound extreme, not having a birthday party in today’s world, but for my siblings and I, it was normal. We were not the only ones. A hand full of kids from my school had modest birthday parties with the Israeli B-day party essentials which include, but not limited to, Bamba, Bislei, Pitah bread triangles with Hummus and Pickles and Mitz Petel (Raspberry juice). Also considered essentials were decorative colorful balloons, which kids ended up bursting them, in other kids faces, simply because they thought it was fun and funny, so we also had that. Everything other than that, was simple and modest back then.
How can I not mention the cake?!
In retrospect, modest upbringing, kept my siblings and I relatively humble and besides, we didn’t really think too much of it. My Ima did bake the same, most amazing special Pineapple cake with cream to mark special occasions and that was it, even a birthday was another day. Did I mention how delicious the cake was?
It’s now or never!
A few days prior to my 17th birthday, I had enough. And I had the urge and the courage to do something about it. From past experiences, I knew that nothing will happen naturally, and organically, and if I’ll wait another year it would be too late… I will legally be an adult (at age 18) and I knew it had to be now or never!
Let me tell you a secret
Since I couldn’t bear the thought of not having at least one birthday party as a “child”, my best friend and I decided to plan my own surprise birthday party… together, and it worked, my best friend asked my mom’s permission to invited a few friends, a very modest birthday party / gathering with colorful balloons Bamba, Bislei and Pitah bread triangles with Hummus and Pickles, and let’s not forget Mitz Petel (Raspberry juice). To make a long story short, I finally had my very first birthday party, when I was 17 years old.
The After Math
Secretly planning your own surprise birthday party is one thing, there were other things I didn’t really planed for; like being embarrassed to climb up the stairs and walk into our apartment when everyone’s jumping at me with Mazal tovs, and having to act as if I was shocked and grateful at the same time, that was not fun, or feeling guilt for a few months for lying to my friends, that was not fun either.
A very long introduction, an insight if you will, to why I didn’t pay too much attention to my birth date based on the Sun calendar and even gave less attention to my Jewish / Hebrew birth date based on the Moon calendar.
Parashat Vayelech
“Ad meah v’esrim”, Until 120 Years Old, is a common Jewish birthday wish meaning, “May you live until 120.”
In the Torah, as we learn in Parashat Vayelech, (“and he went”), the 52nd portion out of 54 annual portions, which records the events of Moses’s last day of earthly life. “I am one hundred and twenty years old today,” he says to the people, “and I can no longer go forth and come in.” He transfers the leadership to Joshua, and based on Devarim Rabba 9:9, he writes 13 Torah scrolls, giving one to each tribe and one to the Levites for safekeeping in the Ark of the Covenant. It is the last portion read before Rosh Hashanah, Moses, the greatest prophet of all time, who was born and passed away on the same date the 7th of Adar dies at the age of 120.
Elul
I was born, a few days before Rosh Hashanah towards the end of Elul. As noted before, I never paid any attention to my Jewish birth date. In the last few years, as I grew closer in my Teshuvah, it all changed.
Learning Torah on a weekly basis, (54 portions throughout the year) connected me to the Jewish Calendar. While some people find answers in astrology, I wanted to know the biblical energy field that was present in the world, the day I was born. I started to wonder about what Torah portion was read all over the world on the week I was born.
My Hebrew Birth date Torah Portion
And there it was Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech is my Hebrew birth date Torah portion. It is one of the most exciting, beautiful, and sad Parashot in the Torah.
Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech
G-d, through Moses, makes a covenant with the people of Israel just before entering the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Moses, the one through whom G-d delivered His people from Egyptian slavery, for all of his blessings, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12). Aaron died for his part in the rebellion at the rock of Merivah. He died on Mount Hor (Numbers 20:25-28), south of Jerusalem.
G-d allowed Moses, before he died at Mount Nevo, east of Jerusalem, to view the Land he Promised to give the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov (Deuteronomy 34:4- 5). After Moses death his body was buried by the G-d in a special place no one would be able to find.
The five books of Moses
Moses has traditionally been regarded as the author of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, which together comprise the Torah, the first section of the Hebrew Bible.
The finding of Moses
In his life, being raised as a prince of the greatest kingdom on earth. Moses grew up in an environment where he had access to everything he needed. Imagine that you never have to worry about money, about bills, or the cost of something you want. That sounds like a dream life right?! But he chose differently, escaping the palace life to live in the desert for 40 years, way before the Burning Bush and the calling from G-d event. It was that experience that prepared him to lead the Israelite for an additional 40 years of wander in the Desert. When you think about it Moses lived 80 years of his life in the desert!
613 Mitzvot
“Not in Heaven”
“For this commandment which I command you this day” there is also this inspiring idea, in reference to the 613 commandments of the Torah, assuring us, that if we wish to find truth, beauty and spirituality, being closer to G-d, it is not as difficult, as perhaps one may think: “Not in heaven … and not beyond the sea is … because – the thing is very near to you. In your mouth and in your heart to do it.” The abilities to always choose well, to be close to G-d, as he will meet you wherever you are, to live a life of holiness are not beyond the sea or in the sky, but right within us. What a beautiful, comforting thought to embrace, especially at times when leading a Jewish life may seem a bit overwhelming.
Time is like a spiral
Every year, on the anniversary of any special event, we are tapping into the same spiritual energy that originally started the event. We are born with a mazal, our soul contains seeds of talents and qualities we should bring forth. That same energy is present again and again every year on the anniversary of that date. On your special day you have the ability to accomplish that which would perhaps be very difficult on another day.
What’s So Special About Your Jewish Birthday?
A birthday is a day of gratitude for the life we’ve been given. Every person born into this world is a promise to make the world a better place, helping to transform a world that is hostile to a spiritual, to a G-d like place, simply (not so simple) by transforming yourself, and by reaching spiritual soulful heights, you help elevate our world to higher realms of spirituality.
Story time
Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?
by Dan Western
Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot.
He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners.
He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then took out the coffee and placed it in a cup.
Turning to her, he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she hastily replied. “Look closer” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did, and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face. “Father, what does this mean?” she asked. He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently.
The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.
The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.
However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.
“Which one are you?” he asked his daughter.
“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”
The last six months brought upon us many changes, BCE is no longer Before Common Era, when I hear BCE, I think Before Corona Era, life, as we known is no longer avaiable to us, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how YOU choose to react to it and what YOU make out of it. Life is all about leaning, adopting and converting all the struggles that we experience into something positive.
What is your Hebrew Birth date Torah portion?
Find out the Torah portion that is linked to your Hebrew birth date. It has to be one of the 54 Torah portion read Annually (listed below) Who knows, you might learn something new about yourself, I certainly did. It can easily be found, using The Hebrew calendar link below. Enjoy.
Genesis: B’REISHEET, NOACH, LECH LECHA, VAYERA, CHAYEI SARAH, TOLDOT, VAYETZE
VAYISHLACH, VAYESHEV, MIKETZ, VAYIGASH, VAYECHI
Exodus: SHEMOT, VA’ERA, BO, BESHALACH,
YITRO, MISHPATIM, TERUMAH, TETZAVEH, KI TISA, VAYAKHEL, PEKUDEI
Leviticus: VAYIKRA, TZAV, SHEMINI, TAZRIA, METZORA, ACHAREI MOT, KEDOSHIM, EMOR BEHAR, BECHUKOTAI,
Numbers: BAMIDBAR, NASSO, BEHA’ALOTCHA
SHELACH, KORACH, CHUKAT, BALAK, PINCHAS MATTOT, MASSEI
Deuteronomy: DEVARIM, VA’ETCHANAN, EKEV
RE’EH, SHOFTIM, KI TETZE, KI TAVO, NITZAVIM VAYELECH, HA’AZINU, VEZOT HABRACHA
https://www.hebcal.com/converter/
Check out YedidYah version to “Adon Haselichot” piyut, we sing during the month of Elul.
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This blog article was inspired by chabbad.org