This Shabbos is the final one of the year. We know from חז”ל that
הכל הולך אחר החיתום
How we act in the final days of the year can be מתקן the entire year. We find in the begining of the Parsha a hint to something that certainly can be a great זכות for the upcoming ימי הדין
The Parsha starts off
אתם ניצבים היום כולכם לפני ה’ אלוקיכם….לעברך בברית ה’ אלוקיך
As רש”י explains, on the final day of the life of משה רבינו, he entered כלל ישראל in a new covenant with Hashem. From now on there is a concept of ערבות in which every Yid is responsible for one another, both physically and spiritualy. And this new ברית is valid for all times, as the פסוק says
כי את אשר ישנו פה עמנו עומד היום…ואת אשר איננו פה
For all future generations, we are now responsible for one another. This means that we can be מוציא others in certain מצוות by having them in mind. And it also means that we must be there for each other at all times. And included in this, is the obligation of
ואהבת לרעך כמוך
To love every single Yid. It’s only through our love for one another that we can be full עריבים for each other. And this includes loving those who may behave and act in ways that are different than what we’re used to. The אריז”ל writes that just like there is שבעים פנים לתורה So too, there are שבעים פנים in fullfilling the מצוות. People connect to Hashem in different ways, and included in the מצוה of loving each other, is to appreciate that what may work for me in עבודת השם , may not work for someone else.
As we approach the final שבת of the year, we can gain inspiration by trying to strengthen our feelings of ערבות and love for our fellow Yidden, which will certainly be a great זכות for us as we approach the ימי הדין.
We’ll conclude with a story that highlights this point. At the Agudah Convention one year, a speaker noted the opinion of a Reform rabbi on a certain topic. The speaker then continued, ” להבדיל, our רבנים tell us differently.” Suddenly a voice called out from the dais ” We don’t say להבדיל on another Yid!” It was the voice of Harav Aharon Schechter זצ”ל, calling out to the speaker and the entire audience. We may not agree with them, but no matter what, a Yid is a Yid.
Weekly Parsha Shiur 