Standing Together in Unity

Parshat Nitzavim opens: “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem” — you are all standing here today. Every Jew, from leaders to water carriers, stood together before Hashem. Chazal teach this is arvut — kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh — we are responsible for one another. That unity is not only the opening of our parsha; it is the key to redemption.

From Destruction to Renewal

The Vilna Gaon revealed that each parsha in Sefer Devarim corresponds to a century of the last millennium. Ki Tavo aligned with 5699–5704, the years of the Holocaust, when the terrifying tochacha tragically came to life. If Ki Tavo was the parsha of destruction, Nitzavim is the parsha of renewal. “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem” — we are still standing. Am Yisrael chai.

Thriving After Darkness

And more than standing — we are thriving. Nitzavim speaks of teshuva and Torah, and in the decades following the Holocaust we saw both surge in ways our ancestors could never have imagined: the Baal Teshuva movement swept across the globe, yeshivot and kollelim flourished, sefarim were published and translated, and today Torah literally fits in every pocket — shiurim and apps making “Lo bashamayim hi” — it is not in heaven — a living reality.

Kibbutz Galuyot in Our Days

Our parsha promises: we will return to Hashem, He will gather us from the nations, and bring us back to our land, more blessed than our fathers. And indeed, we have witnessed Jews return from Yemen, Iraq, Morocco, Russia, Ethiopia — until today, half of world Jewry lives in Israel. Hashem is “circumcising our hearts” (umal Hashem et levavcha), opening us to love Him with all our heart and soul.

Teshuva Hastens Redemption

The Rambam writes that the Torah itself guarantees Israel will repent at the end of galut, and immediately be redeemed. Chazal add: great is teshuva, for it brings Geula to the world (Yoma 86b). And in Sanhedrin (98a) we learn: “Ani Hashem, b’itah achishena” — redemption will come in its time, or if we merit, it will be hastened. The message is clear: teshuva not only ensures redemption — it hastens it.

Living at the End of Nitzavim

According to the Vilna Gaon, we are now at the end of Nitzavim. And what do we see? Teshuva spreading. Torah flourishing. Kibbutz galuyot unfolding before our eyes. The ball is already rolling — and kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh. Each of us can help another Jew take one more step closer to Hashem. And we don’t have to wait until V’Zot Habracha — if we strengthen our unity and teshuva, Mashiach can come now.

Choosing Life, Choosing Geula

This is our moment. After Ki Tavo, we are not only alive — we are thriving. After galut, we are being gathered. After darkness, we are choosing life. Just as we once stood together before Hashem, we will stand together again — united in Torah, teshuva, and arvut. We are standing at the very threshold of Geula. So close. Every mitzvah, every act of kindness, every step of teshuva is another push forward — another step carrying us across the line.

Marching Into Redemption

Soon, we will no longer only stand — we will march together into Geula. If we strengthen our unity and return to Hashem with all our heart and soul, then achishena — Hashem will hasten the redemption. May we merit, through our unity and teshuva, to see Yerushalayim rebuilt, to rejoice with Mashiach, and to witness the Geula Sheleima.