The traditional Torah portions for Yom Kippur morning and afternoon describe the original Yom Kippur rites while the Israelite wandered in the wilderness, performed by Aaron and his sons. They depict the time when atonement would be made for the priests, the tent of meeting, and entire community through various animal sacrifices. The afternoon reading is from a section reminding the people about whom they can and can’t marry, since apparently according to the Mishnah, Yom Kippur afternoon was one of two excellent times to make shidduchin.

Our Machzor substitutes two other texts in the life of the ancient Israelites that were addressed to the people as a whole and represent their spiritual life in a different way, Nitzavim for this morning and Kedoshim for this afternoon.

These selections from Nitzavim (p. 342) remind us on Yom Kippur that the ancient Israelite covenant is also our covenant (i.e., with those who are standing here with us today and equally with all not here today, with our past and our future). and that the crucial element of that covenant is choosing a relationship with God. The choice of life or death that is in front of us is not biological life or death but the spiritual life which is possible for us – we are told that to choose life is to love your God, to listen to God’s voice, and to hold fast to the One who is your life and the length of your days.

A relationship with God seems for most of us a great challenge, although we are surrounded by people in our world who readily say that God clearly speaks to them and tells them what to eat for breakfast and what country to invade. But this text gives us a vehicle to a relationship with God by mentioning a commandment which is not too hard for us, which in fact is not in the heavens at all or across the seas, but rather it is “very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, and you can do it,” as you can see from the verse at the bottom of the page: “Kee Karov Eleicha Hadavar Me’od, B’ficha U’vilvavah L’asoto.

Most commentators believe this commandment to be Teshuvah, repentance, but I see hints to two other commandments as well:

B’feechah – in your mouth is Teshuvah, repentance which starts with confessional, admitting what we need to change Bilvavah – with your heart is Tefillah, prayer, avodah shebalev, the work of the heart which as we mentioned last night is intimately connected with L’asoto – i.e., to do Tzedakah, to do justice in the world.

We Jews no longer depend on voices from the heavens; we have a spiritual path that the High Holy Days point us toward every year. Choose life with your repentance, your prayerful heart action, and your doing justice in the world. To recall these things, “Atem Nitzaveem Hayom” you are standing this day.