Page 32 - HaMizrachi Australia Rosh HaShana Yom Kippur 5781

YAMIM NORA’IM READING

Rabbanit Sally Mayer

The Inspiration to Change

e read in Parashat Nitzavim Later, when Yosef’s brothers encounter wives openly: while you were able to
that the mitzvah of teshuva the Egyptian viceroy’s hostility and false sin secretly using the power of the king,
Wis אי ִ ה םִי ַ מ ׁ ָּ ש ַ ב אלֹ – “not in accusation, they whisper to each other, your punishment will be public humilia-
heaven or across the sea,” far away and ּונ ְ חַנ ֲ א םי ִ מ ׁ ֵ ש ֲ א ל ָ ב ֲ א – we are guilty, for we tion. After hearing this, David acknowl-
unreachable, but rather within our did not listen to our brother’s cries. edges his guilt: 'ה ַ ל י ִ תא ָ ט ָ ח. No excuses
grasp and our ability to accomplish. What inspired their feelings of teshuva? but simply: “I take responsibility.” Natan
The Torah makes it sound so easy! Let’s It seems they did not feel remorse after responds that G-d accepts the teshuva,
look together at three cases of teshuva the sale, nor after they see their father’s at least partially, for he will not die. But
in Tanach to learn more about teshuva. suffering when he concludes Yosef has the other punishments stand.
been killed. They feel remorse when
Upon realizing that Yehuda will never they experience yisurin: difficulties and We have now three models: Yehuda’s
fulfill his promise of allowing Sheilah to suffering. As they experienced this per- teshuva, which is the ideal, since he is
marry her, Tamar, Yehuda’s daughter- secution, and while they did not know lucky enough to be offered the oppor-
in-law, disguises herself as a prostitute for sure this was a punishment from tunity to admit his sin without suffering
or punishment, and he has the courage
to tempt Yehuda, who does not recog- G-d, they began to question, why is this and character to seize the chance; the
nize her. Several months later, when happening? model of the brothers, who as a result
Tamar’s pregnancy from that encoun- of their suffering, look at themselves
ter comes to light, Yehuda condemns David HaMelech, a descendant of and how they can mend their ways; and
Tamar to death for her adultery, as she Yehuda and Tamar, sees, desires and finally, David, who admits his sin only
was still tied to Sheilah. As she walks to takes Batsheva while her husband is after hearing his punishment, but yet
her death, she sends Yehuda his ring, away at battle. Upon discovering she that teshuva is meaningful and accepted
staff, and cord she had taken from him is pregnant, David invites her husband as well.
as collateral, and says אָנ ר ֶּ כ ַ ה – please Uriah home from the battlefield, in the
recognize these items – whose are they? hope he will go home to his wife and Rav Soloveichik writes in Halachic
thus assume the baby is his own. Uriah’s
Yehuda hears the echo of the cruel ר ֶּ כ ַ ה refusal to go home to be with his wife Man that “Repentance, according to
the halachic view, is an act of creation
אָנ message he sent to his father – “Do while Am Yisrael is in danger on the – self-creation. The severing of one’s
you recognize this coat dripping with battlefield is an ironic condemnation psychic identity with one’s previous ‘I,’
blood as your son Yosef’s?” of David’s sin. David then orchestrates and the creation of a new ‘I,’ possessor

At this moment, Yehuda faced a terri- Uriah’s death in battle and takes Bat- of a new consciousness, a new heart and
ble choice: publicly humiliate himself sheva as his wife after she mourns her spirit, different desires, longings, goals
by admitting to this intimate encoun- husband. – this is the meaning of that repentance
ter with his daughter-in-law, or allow Natan HaNavi goes to David and tells compounded of regret over the past and
resolve for the future.” At this challeng-
Tamar – and his own unborn children him a story about a rich man who takes ing time, may we all find within our-
– to die by fire. Yehuda summons up a poor man’s sheep to feed to his guest selves the creative power to transform
the courage, and in two words redeems instead of taking one from his own siz- ourselves this year with sincere teshuva
himself and rises to lead the family: able flock. David pronounces that this and lasting change.
יִּנ ֶּ מ ִ מ ה ָ ק ְ ד ָ צ – she is more right than I. His man should be killed. Natan Hanavi
recognition of his responsibility for the responds to David – You are that man,
situation, combined with his strength of and therefore you will suffer punish- Rabbanit Sally Mayer serves as Rosh
character and willingness to be hum- ment: the sword will never leave your Midrasha at Ohr Torah Stone’s Midreshet
bled, inspired his successful teshuva. family, and another man will take your Lindenbaum

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