Thursday, Elul 23, 5777 / September 14, 2017

This Shabbat, the last Shabbat of the year, 5777, we combine two Parshiot together: Parshat Nitzavim &ParshatVayeilach. Only in certain years are these two Parshiot combined.

Q.Why are these two Parshiot combined this year?

A. There are 54 Parshiot in the Torah. Each Shabbat we read one Parsha, thus, finishing the entire Torah in the course of a year. We begin the Torah on the Shabbat after Simchat Torah, and conclude it on the next Simchat Torah.

The first day Rosh Hashana can be on any of the following four days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Shabbat. But it cannot fall on: Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

When the first day of Rosh Hashana falls on Monday or Tuesday then there will be one Shabbat between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur; another Shabbat between Yom Kippur and Sukkot. In that case we will need to read one Parsha each Shabbat. Thus, we will read Vayeilach on the Shabbat after Rosh Hashana and Haazinu on the Shabbat between Yom Kippur and Sukkot.

But when Rosh Hashana falls on Thursday (as this year) or Shabbat, there will be only one Shabbat left to read the regular Torah portion; the Shabbat between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, as the Shabbat after Yom Kippur will already be the Sukkot holiday in which we read the special Sukkot reading. Thus, we need to combine this Shabbat the two Parshiot of Nitzavim & Vayeilach.

Of Moshe’s many parting words in Parshat Nitzavin, which he said to the Jewish people on the day of his passing, encouraging them to observe the Torah and Mitzvot, is: “For these Mitzvot which I command you this day, are not concealed from you, nor are they far away. It is not in the skies, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to the skies for us and take it for us and tell it to us, so that we can keep it.’ Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea and fetch it for us’.. Rather, it is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.”

The Talmudic sage Rabbi Yanai said: “To what is this compared, To a loaf of bread which was hanging from the ceiling high up. A fool says, ‘Who can reach it to take it down.’ But a smart person says, ‘Didn’t someone hang it up there. How did he get up there? I too will make an effort. Let me bring a ladder and slowly but surely, I will get it down.”

“So too, a fool says, ‘How can I possibly study the Torah, when there is so much to study.’ As a result he doesn’t study anything and remains ignorant. But a wise person says, ‘I will study a little today and a little tomorrow and so on.’ And little by little he will master the Torah. 

Indeed, A little bit of Torah study each day, over time, goes a very long way.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA