Nitzavim 

The Parsha begins “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem lifnei hashem 
Elokeichem.” You are all standing today before Hashem your G-d…” 
(Devarim– Deuteronomy 29:9).

Chazal (our Rabbis) indicated that the reading of Parshat Nitzavim always precedes Rosh Hashanah in order to remind us that now, on the eve of the Days of 
Judgment we need to stop, stand still for a moment to reflect and realize that we are at all times and on every occasion in our lives in the presence of Hashem.

We are busy with hectic preparations for Yom Tov and in all the hustle and bustle of getting ready for these special days the 
meaning of the holy period that surrounds us is easily lost. Hashem gives us 
the Yamim Noraim to remind us simply to SLOW DOWN and STOP. Even if during the rest of the year we may aloe ourselves to forget, on Rosh Hashanah, we must  stop running and  begin thinking – why are we in this world and what is our responsibility? 
The message for all of us at this time of the year is that a person should realize that after all the ki teitzei and ki tavo (all the comings and goings expressed by the names of the last two parshiot), in reality — atem nitzvavim lifnei hashem: we stand constantly in the presence of Hashem one can run one’s whole life, move from place to place, job to job, or friend to friend, but , but in truth, whoever one 
is, the alef bet of faith is to realize that we are always standing in the presence of Hashem every second of our lives and one cannot walk away from Him. 

The same message is found at the beginning of Shulchan Aruch. The Rema 
writes “Shiviti Hashem l’negdi tamid hu klal gadol baTorah 
uv’maalot Tzaddikim asher holchim lifnei Elokim” – “Wherever I go,  
I place Hashem before me: this is the great principle of Torah”.  

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev was famous for defending the Jewish 
people before G-d and always interpreting their actions in the best 
possible light. His fervor in prayer and the fulfillment of Mitzvot are legendary. His song before Havdalah, “Dudele“, expressing Man’s yearning and awareness of G-d’s presence, is still sung with tenderness and great feeling and sums up the message of Nitzavim wherever I go, whoever I really am You are there before me.