Page 38 - HaMizrachi # 22 Rosh HahHana - Yom Kippur 2020 USA

YAMIM NORA’IM READING

Rabbanit Sally Mayer

The Inspiration to Change

e read in Parashat Nitzavim Later, when Yosef’s brothers encoun- king, your punishment will be public
that the mitzvah of teshuva ter the Egyptian viceroy’s hostility and humiliation. After hearing this, David
Wis אי ִ ה םִי ַ מ ׁ ָּ ש ַ ב אלֹ – “not in false accusation, they whisper to each acknowledges his guilt: 'ה ַ ל י ִ תא ָ ט ָ ח. No
heaven or across the sea,” far away and other, ּונ ְ חַנ ֲ א םי ִ מ ׁ ֵ ש ֲ א ל ָ ב ֲ א – we are guilty, for excuses but simply: “I take responsibil-
unreachable, but rather within our we did not listen to our brother’s cries. ity.” Natan responds that G-d accepts the
grasp and our ability to accomplish. What inspired their feelings of teshuva? teshuva, at least partially, for he will not
The Torah makes it sound so easy! Let’s It seems they did not feel remorse after die. But the other punishments stand.
look together at three cases of teshuva the sale, nor after they see their father’s We have now three models: Yehuda’s
in Tanach to learn more about teshuva. suffering when he concludes Yosef has
been killed. They feel remorse when teshuva, which is the ideal, since he is
Upon realizing that Yehuda will never they experience yisurin: difficulties and lucky enough to be offered the oppor-
fulfill his promise of allowing Sheilah to suffering. As they experienced this per- tunity to admit his sin without suffering
marry her, Tamar, Yehuda’s daughter-in- secution, and while they did not know or punishment, and he has the courage
law, disguises herself as a prostitute to for sure this was a punishment from and character to seize the chance; the
tempt Yehuda, who does not recognize G-d, they began to question, why is this model of the brothers, who as a result
her. Several months later, when Tamar’s happening? of their suffering, look at themselves
and how they can mend their ways; and
pregnancy from that encounter comes to David HaMelech, a descendant of finally, David, who admits his sin only
light, Yehuda condemns Tamar to death Yehuda and Tamar, sees, desires and after hearing his punishment, but yet
for her adultery, as she was still tied to takes Batsheva while her husband is that teshuva is meaningful and accepted
Sheilah. As she walks to her death, she away at battle. Upon discovering she as well.
sends Yehuda his ring, staff, and cord is pregnant, David invites her husband
she had taken from him as collateral, Uriah home from the battlefield, in the Rav Soloveichik writes in Halachic
and says אָנ ר ֶּ כ ַ ה – please recognize these hope he will go home to his wife and Man that “Repentance, according to
items – whose are they? Yehuda hears thus assume the baby is his own. Uriah’s the halachic view, is an act of creation
the echo of the cruel אָנ ר ֶּ כ ַ ה message he refusal to go home to be with his wife – self-creation. The severing of one’s
sent to his father – “Do you recognize while Am Yisrael is in danger on the psychic identity with one’s previous ‘I,’
this coat dripping with blood as your battlefield is an ironic condemnation of and the creation of a new ‘I,’ possessor
son Yosef’s?” David’s sin. David then orchestrates Uri- of a new consciousness, a new heart and
ah’s death in battle and takes Batsheva as spirit, different desires, longings, goals
At this moment, Yehuda faced a terri- his wife after she mourns her husband. – this is the meaning of that repentance
ble choice: publicly humiliate himself compounded of regret over the past and
by admitting to this intimate encounter Natan HaNavi goes to David and tells resolve for the future.” At this challeng-
with his daughter-in-law, or allow Tamar him a story about a rich man who ing time, may we all find within our-
takes a poor man’s sheep to feed to his
– and his own unborn children – to die guest instead of taking one from his selves the creative power to transform
by fire. Yehuda summons up the cour- own sizable flock. David pronounces ourselves this year with sincere teshuva
age, and in two words redeems himself that this man should be killed. Natan and lasting change.
and rises to lead the family: יִּנ ֶּ מ ִ מ ה ָ ק ְ ד ָ צ – Hanavi responds to David – You are
she is more right than I. His recognition that man, and therefore you will suffer
of his responsibility for the situation, punishment: the sword will never leave
combined with his strength of character your family, and another man will take Rabbanit Sally Mayer serves as Rosh
and willingness to be humbled, inspired your wives openly: while you were able Midrasha at Ohr Torah Stone’s Midreshet
his successful teshuva. to sin secretly using the power of the Lindenbaum

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