(9) You stand this day, all of you, before your God יהוה —your tribal heads, your elders, and your officials, every man in Israel, (10) your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to waterdrawer— (11) to enter into the covenant of your God יהוה, which your God יהוה is concluding with you this day, with its sanctions; (12) in order to establish you this day as God’s people and in order to be your God, as promised you and as sworn to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
This is the beginning of Parashat Nitzavim. It comes after the blessings and curses enumerated in Parashat Ki Tavo, and in the context of Moses giving his final instructions to the Israelites.
1. Who is included in those standing before G-d?
2. Why is it important that all of them are there?
3. Who are the tribal heads, elders, and water-drawers in our community now?
4. What are the benefits of having everybody included in our community?
5. This text is read shortly before Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. What is its implication for how we make sure everybody in our community feels included in how we celebrate those three holidays?
6. What is something that you can do today to make sure everybody feels included in our community? What is something that you can do this month to make sure everybody feels included in our community?