Netzovim/Vayelach

The sedra of Netzovim starts by Moshe saying the following......

" you are standing here all of you before the L-rd your G-d."

The Alshich quotes Rashi's comment on the Sedra of Matos. Usually Moshe would speak first to the Princes of the Jewish people and after to the rest. Here however the Jewish people are standing ready to enter into a covenant before G-d. In G-d's eyes, those who we see as being important people might be just the reverse. Those we see as humble and insignificant might be the most precious. So no distinction or hierarchy was present on this the day of Moshe's death. The covenant would be entered into equally by all.

The Yerushalmi Talmud records in Taanis Chpt.1 a searing illustration of this point. Once the land of Israel experienced a devastating drought. The greatest Rabbis prayed for rain. Their prayers went unanswered. One of the Rabbis was told in a dream that if "Pentecoca" were to pray, then rain would fall. Pentecoca was the manager of the local Bordello! He prayed and it rained.

Rabbi Avuha sent for him and asked him what he had done to achieve this. He could only think of the bad things he did. When pressed he revealed that once a woman had come to the Bordello to prostitute herself. He heard her crying and asked her why. She explained that her husband had been imprisoned by the Romans and this was the only way she could raise the money for his release. Pentecoca had sold all of his possessions including his bed! He raised the money and stop this woman's sacrifice.

The Talmud in Avoda Zora 17a tells the story of another similar person, Elozor Ben Durdoi. He had visited every Harlot that he could. His life was devoted to hedonism and immorality. Once he heard of a particular Harlot who took a fortune as her pay. He travelled a great distance at considerable risk, to add her to his list. When they were about to consummate the contract, a wind blew. The Strumpet turned to him and said, "Just as this wind will never return to it's place so too Elozor Ben Durdoi will never be accepted if he did Teshuva!"

It seems more than strange that a woman such as she, should enter into a theological discussion at that particular moment. Rabbeinu Chananal says it was in fact a "Heavenly voice" which called out this message to him. There is no contradiction. The heavenly voice spoke through her !

Rabbi Yitzchok Blazer quotes the Neila prayer from Yom Kippur....

" Your offer your hand to those who sin and your right hand is open to accept those who return to you."

The right hand is the stronger hand and is referred to second. The first hand is the weaker left hand. G-d drops hints as he did in this case to signal to people to return. If they do then he grabs them with his strong right hand and pulls them near. Elozor Ben Durdoi paid attention to those words and walked away from the woman. This was his first step back to Ha-Shem. G-d then took him and helped come all the way.

In sefer Sifsei Chaim the key to this process is revealed in just six words on the first page. A person can come back to G-d if.......

" Im yaish rak rotzon amiti v'hishtatlus".........If there is a true desire and an effort made.

No one can Judge how HaShem sees any Jew. One thing is guaranteed. Every Jew on whatever level can come back, Im yaish rotzon amiti v'hishtadlus, even an Elozor Ben Durdoi....every Jew!