I've always been a big fan of Parshat Nitzavim.
It's probably the only Torah portion that speaks for itself.
Whereas elucidation is always welcome, in this parsha it's icing on the cake rather than a fundamental necessity.
Listen to these beautiful words: "Surely this instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach.
It is not in the heavens, that you should say, 'Who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it?' No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.
" (Devarim/Deuteronomy 30:11-14) Two questions that many commentaries ask: 1.
What is "this instruction" referring to? Many say it refers to the mitzvah (commandment) of teshuva (repentance), i.
e.
righting all the wrongs in your life, making amends with all those you have hurt, and doing all you can to be a great person.
Which leads to question #2: 2.
Very close to you? Are you kidding me!? There are a great many people in this world who will sweat and tremble for days because they know they just need eke out the words "I'm sorry" to somebody.
And we're supposed to think of the entire concept of undoing our every mistake as if it were just like a jolly hop across the street!? For sure not.
But all of this does allude to the unique relationship between man and God according to Judaism.
You see, this is a relationship that has two aspects that are very different from the relationship between people, two differences which can easily cloud ones judgement when trying to build a relationship with God.
A.
We should do something, even if we're not doing something else.
(Don't worry, I'll explain.
) B.
There's almost no such thing as having "gone too far".
Say you hurt someone really bad, to the point where they wish to have nothing to do with you anymore.
At that point you must give space.
Lots of it.
Perhaps forever.
It sounds almost absurd, but one can (and should) most certainly continue doing the things that God asks of you, even if you have done and continue to do mass amounts of the wrong things.
A claim like this is meaningless (albeit reasonable in a human relationship): "Why should I pray when I don't keep kosher or observe Shabbat? Why would God want my prayers?" He (God) can separate, even if you have trouble.
To not be able to compartmentalize is a human weakness, not a Divine one.
And the same goes for forgiveness.
Humans are very unforgiving creatures.
We hold endless grudges, and we even find it terribly difficult sometimes to forgive ourselves, let alone someone else.
God, on the other hand, has an unlimited storage house of forgiveness for all of us.
All we need to do is want it, and ask for it.
There's almost no such thing as going so far as to make full-fledged repentance unreachable.
And there's no better time than now to reach for it! "The thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart.
"