Awareness of our Choices

Rabbi’s Message

Shalom,

Watching the final sunset of 5786, we gathered at Sand Harbor to welcome Rosh Hashanah, the New Year.  We began the journey of the Yamim Noraim - The Days of Awe striving to elevate our awareness - a Hineini State of Mind.  As the first ten days of 5787 brought Yom Kippur, we heard the words of parahsat Nitzavim and Moses’ charge to us:  See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity. (Deut. 30:15)  And, a few verses later:  I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life! (v. 19).  We hear this charge to make the choice of life and blessing.  

As we begin again the cycle of Torah reading with Bereisheit, we return to the first moment Torah illuminates for us the power of our choices, if we are aware enough to notice.  As Cain is distressed over his jealousy of his brother Abel, God says to Cain:  Surely, if you do right, There is uplift.  But if you do not do right, Sin couches at the door; Its urge is toward you, Yet you can be its master. (Gen. 4:7)  V’atah Timshal Bo - Yet, you can be its master [or:  You can rule it].  The year begins with recognizing our abilities, and over what we can have control.  Learning from this verse, we have the ability to “do right” in the world.  Radak, a 13th century Torah commentator from France, identifies this as a moment Torah reveals the free will inherent in being human.  “If you want to, you can control it, govern it, resulting in your humbling it before you. By saying these words G’d demonstrated to Kayin the immense power inherent in his possessing free choice. Moses repeated this thought at the end of his life when in his parting speech he said to the Jewish people:  See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity…Choose Life! (Deut. 30:15 & 19)”. (Radak on Genesis 4:7)

As we step into the New Year ahead of us, we may not know the choices that will be revealed, yet what we do know is that we have the choice to “choose life” and to “do right” when they are before us.  Scrolling the Torah from Moses’ farewell guidance, his charge, to the lessons of Cain and Abel, reminds us to be present, to be aware, and to embrace the Hineini State of Mind allowing us to notice the choices as they come.

Shavua Tov - To a Good Week,

Rabbi Evon