This Shabbat has a special name, Shabbat Shuva. The name derives from the Haftarah that is read on the upcoming Shabbat, which falls during the Days of Awe, Yamim Nora’im, the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The name is appropriate for the season, which is the time for teshuvah, a turning back to God, or, if you prefer, to return to our actual selves, the persons we are meant to be. The Haftarah begins, “Shuvah Yisrael al Adonai Elochecha,” which can be translated as “Return, O Israel to the Lord Your God.” In poetic fashion, the Haftarah sets forth a formula for repentance: (1) recognizing that we have strayed from our best selves or our best behavior; (2) acknowledging this out loud to the person we have hurt, apologizing, and seeking mercy/forgiveness; (3) resolving not to repeat the behavior; and (4) acting differently when the situation recurs.
In his book about the High Holy Days, This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared, Rabbi Alan Lew, z”l, teaches, “The great drama of this season is the drama of choice. We can choose to let go of anger, boredom, fear, guilt, impatience, grief, disappointment, dejection, anxiety, and despair, and we can make this choice moment by moment….” “Transformation is not something that happens once and for all time. …Transformation does not have a beginning, a middle, or an end. It is always going on.” (pp. 160, 154) For most of us, he teaches, the most realistic approach is to focus on one thing: “Just choose one simple and fundamental aspect of your life and resolve to being totally conscious and honest about it….” (p. 72)
Although this week’s parashah is only thirty verses long, it contains some significant passages. For example, verses 10 through 13 are the source for the tradition to read from the Torah to the entire Jewish people so that all can learn about it. “Gather the people – men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities – that they may hear….” And, Moses continues, make sure that future generations continue reading Torah.
This parashah also deals with transition. Moses, who has led the Jewish people put of Egypt and for 40 years of wandering through the desert, is about to die. He calls together the entire community, and tells them to “[b]e strong and resolute,” for God will be with them. (Deut. 31:6.) Moses then calls Joshua up in front of the entire community, and tells him, “Be strong and resolute, for it is you who shall go with this people into the land” promised to the patriarchs, assures him that God will be with him, and concludes, “Fear not and be not dismayed.” (Deut. 31: 7-8.) This scene is then repeated again in verse 23.
When a passage in the Torah is repeated, our tradition gives it a special significance; it is as if the repetition is intended to make a point and make sure no one misses it. Here, the point seems to be that transition is necessary in a community of human beings with finite life spans, and that strength and resolution are key to those coming into leadership.
When the leaders in ritual and governance can no longer perform the tasks they used to do, others are called upon to step up and begin to assume those responsibilities. The Torah tells us that those who do step up must find within themselves strength and resolution, and have faith that they are up to the task. We are seeing this process take place, slowly, but surely, in our ritual leaders and participants, and those serving as Board and Committee members here at TBH. Changes like these provide an opportunity for transformation, both individually and as a community.
Our strength as a community depends upon new people stepping up into unfamiliar roles so that our community can continue to thrive. And this will best happen before, not after, our leaders find, like Moses, that they can no longer go forth and serve the community.
Shabbat Shalom, and G’mar Tov!
Guest Commentator: Carl Nelson
Vayeilech (Deuteronomy 31:1-30) Torah Reading for Shabbat Shuva, September 26, 2025
September 25, 2025 by tbhrich • D'var Torah, Drashot
This Shabbat has a special name, Shabbat Shuva. The name derives from the Haftarah that is read on the upcoming Shabbat, which falls during the Days of Awe, Yamim Nora’im, the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The name is appropriate for the season, which is the time for teshuvah, a turning back to God, or, if you prefer, to return to our actual selves, the persons we are meant to be. The Haftarah begins, “Shuvah Yisrael al Adonai Elochecha,” which can be translated as “Return, O Israel to the Lord Your God.” In poetic fashion, the Haftarah sets forth a formula for repentance: (1) recognizing that we have strayed from our best selves or our best behavior; (2) acknowledging this out loud to the person we have hurt, apologizing, and seeking mercy/forgiveness; (3) resolving not to repeat the behavior; and (4) acting differently when the situation recurs.
In his book about the High Holy Days, This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared, Rabbi Alan Lew, z”l, teaches, “The great drama of this season is the drama of choice. We can choose to let go of anger, boredom, fear, guilt, impatience, grief, disappointment, dejection, anxiety, and despair, and we can make this choice moment by moment….” “Transformation is not something that happens once and for all time. …Transformation does not have a beginning, a middle, or an end. It is always going on.” (pp. 160, 154) For most of us, he teaches, the most realistic approach is to focus on one thing: “Just choose one simple and fundamental aspect of your life and resolve to being totally conscious and honest about it….” (p. 72)
Although this week’s parashah is only thirty verses long, it contains some significant passages. For example, verses 10 through 13 are the source for the tradition to read from the Torah to the entire Jewish people so that all can learn about it. “Gather the people – men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities – that they may hear….” And, Moses continues, make sure that future generations continue reading Torah.
This parashah also deals with transition. Moses, who has led the Jewish people put of Egypt and for 40 years of wandering through the desert, is about to die. He calls together the entire community, and tells them to “[b]e strong and resolute,” for God will be with them. (Deut. 31:6.) Moses then calls Joshua up in front of the entire community, and tells him, “Be strong and resolute, for it is you who shall go with this people into the land” promised to the patriarchs, assures him that God will be with him, and concludes, “Fear not and be not dismayed.” (Deut. 31: 7-8.) This scene is then repeated again in verse 23.
When a passage in the Torah is repeated, our tradition gives it a special significance; it is as if the repetition is intended to make a point and make sure no one misses it. Here, the point seems to be that transition is necessary in a community of human beings with finite life spans, and that strength and resolution are key to those coming into leadership.
When the leaders in ritual and governance can no longer perform the tasks they used to do, others are called upon to step up and begin to assume those responsibilities. The Torah tells us that those who do step up must find within themselves strength and resolution, and have faith that they are up to the task. We are seeing this process take place, slowly, but surely, in our ritual leaders and participants, and those serving as Board and Committee members here at TBH. Changes like these provide an opportunity for transformation, both individually and as a community.
Our strength as a community depends upon new people stepping up into unfamiliar roles so that our community can continue to thrive. And this will best happen before, not after, our leaders find, like Moses, that they can no longer go forth and serve the community.
Shabbat Shalom, and G’mar Tov!
Guest Commentator: Carl Nelson