Parshat Nitzavim/Vayeilech: Should I Stay or Should I go?

This week we have a double parsha but fear not, shul will not be longer as they are both quite short. Netzavim begins with Moshe, on the very last day of his life, declaring that the entire nation are Netzavim – standing together about to enter into a new level of their Covenant with God inasmuch as they now undertake a sense of responsibility for each other. Netzavim means “to stand” as in one place and not going anywhere. 

On the other hand, the name of the subsequent parsha that we read right after is VaYeilech which means “to go” or “to walk”. Again this is taking place at Moshe’s final hours as he goes and walks to each and every tribe to bid them farewell.

The contrast of the names of each parsha could not be more stark. Netzavim – to stand at attention in one place versus VaYeilech – to go, to walk, to keep moving.  

There is great symbolism to the names of the two parshas and the fact that they are often read as one. Especially as we approach Rosh HaShana for this is our challenge as we draw near to the Day of Judgment. To assess our lives, to look over our past year – and even further back – and to decide where and when we should Netzavim/Stand in place, and where and when we should VaYeilech/Go. We need to scrutinize our lives and asses what is good, meaningful, productive, positive and thereby Netzavim – stay standing and loyal to that.   

On the other hand we also need to scrutinize our lives and asses what isn’t so great, is not providing lasting meaning, doesn’t get us anywhere in the long run and is overall a negative. When it come to those things we need to VaYeilech – vamos! Get a move on and get out. 

I wrote about this notion once before in the context of the cloud that followed the Israelites during their 40 year trek in the Wilderness. Back at the very end of the Book of Shemot/Exodus the Torah describes:

And the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the Mishkan. Moshe couldn’t enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud rested upon it and (because) the glory of the Lord filled the Mishkan. When the cloud rose up from over the Mishkan (then) the Israelites would embark on their journeys. But if the cloud did not arise, then they would not travel until it would again arise (from off the Mishkan.) For the cloud of the Lord was upon the Mishkan by day, and a fire on it at night, within eyesight of Israel throughout their journeys.

There aren’t a whole lot of specifics here, just a generic description of the cloud hovering over the Mishkan, God’s presence filling it, and that this cloud was an indicator as to when the Israelites were to move on, or when they were to remain stationary in place. 

Within this simple description is an important lesson. For the Torah is basically saying that when God was present and visible to the Jewish people – as indicated by the cloud floating over the Mishkan – then they didn’t need to go anywhere. But once that cloud left, and along with it God’s presence, then they had to get moving. 

When God is in your midst, when He is in your life, you don’t really need to go anywhere. If His presence is there, then leave well enough alone and just stay put exactly where you are.

On the other hand, when the cloud leaves, indicating that God has left, then you need to move on. When you are in a place where you see and feel that there isn’t spirituality, you need to get out of there. You need to find and follow the cloud to the place where God is. If you are in a time and place in life when things feels empty, your soul thirsts and it isn’t getting its due, then you need to proactively do something and move away to a space and place where your spirit can be nourished.

The Israelites were poised to enter The Promised Land. The Cloud would no longer be in their midst. And neither would Moshe. But the lesson could not be more clear for them… and for us as well. When do we Netzavim – stand pat with the Good and Blessings that we have and not go anywhere but just continue to receive, enjoy and nourish them? And when do we Vayeilech – go, move, walk away from the useless junk that gets us nowhere in our lives? 

This month of Elul, Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur gives us that opportunity to make those choices of whether we should stay or whether we should go.  

Darlin’ you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I’ll be here ’til the end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
-The Clash