Nitzavim 5772: Standing with Purpose and a Posture of Happiness and Joy

This week’s parshah is named Nitzavim. It literally means "you (pl) are standing" but not any kind of standing – for that the Torah would likely have used a different verb.  Rather nitzavim means to stand upright, with a purpose, with an attitude – an attitude of preparation, or readiness to receive what is coming.

The Torah portion also describes just how inclusive the Jewish community is meant to be.  All those who are present receiving Moshe’s instructions are identified – from the leaders and tribal chiefs and elders, to the youngest person in the camp!  From the children and those who are now part of the community even though they were not born into it - the Torah even includes those who have not yet been born.  Rich and poor; old and young -- getting up to meet the challenge.  From those who enforced the laws to even the humble wood-choppers and water-carriers.  In other words, those who are considered among the poorest in the community are included.  

It is a broad net that is cast!  A net that is as diverse at is inclusive. And one other vital message – about all the lessons that Moshe is teaching from Torah – we are taught that whether we embrace this community and its norms and how we embrace this community and its norms is left for us to choose.  God is setting before us every day the choice of life and good.  (Devarim 30:15.)

So a story about a water-carrier and his choices.

Every day the old water carrier passed by the study hall of the Baal Shem Tov (18th century Ukraine) with his pails.  The Baal Shem Tov and his students were often outside at a study break when the water-carrier walked by. 

Whenever Baal Shem Tov saw the water carrier, he interrupted his students to ask him, "Berel, my good man, how are you doing today?"

Berel, the water carrier, would usually offer a polite response and continue on his way.  But one day the water carrier had a sad saying, "Rebbe, it's nice of you to ask a poor man, but how should I feel? Not good! No! Day in and day out I carry these heavy pails. My back hurts, I am getting older.  My boots are in tatters, still I have no money for new ones. My family is large. The burden is too much. My children need food, shoes and clothes, and . . . ach, it's too much to talk about.  Then those new houses at the end of the town want more and more water, and they are built up on the slope of the hill, and the water is so heavy, and I am so tired."   With a deep sigh Berel picked up his pails and walked away dragging his feet. Berel did not look back. The Baal Shem Tov said nothing.

A few days later the Baal Shem Tov again stood with his students when the water carrier passed by. "Berel, good to see you, how are you today?" The water carrier stood still. He beamed. "Baruch Hashem (Thank God), Rebbe, I am doing fine. I have work, so I earn money to feed my family. I am blessed, because I have a large family, so many sweet children . . . I am happy that I can buy them food to eat and pay their teachers. And those new houses they recently built at the hill need a lot of water, that's extra income for me. Thank you for asking a simple man how he is doing. God is good to me!"

The Baal Shem Tov smiled and blessed him with some encouraging words. Then water carrier lifted his heavy buckets and went joyfully on his way, and the water in his pails reflected the light of the sun.

The Baal Shem Tov's disciples were puzzled. Why was the old water carrier so much happier all of a sudden even with his same pair of tattered boots and his same old pails of water?

The Baal Shem Tov explained.  When Berel is unhappy and feels things are missing from his life – he chooses to see the world that way and grumbles and complains. But when Berel is happy and content with what is in his life, he sees the world that way and joyfully goes about his work with a light step.

It is not for him as if some days are good and some are bad – rather every day presents him with a choice – to experience the world through happiness and joy or to experience the world through sadness and loss.  It is his attitude, his posture that determines how his day will be received by him.

The choice is ours -- will we choose to experience this week with an eye for goodness and light and joy and blessing to lift your spirits or will we cast our eyes down and see only sadness and darkness.  The choice is ours -- each of ours.