Parashat Nitzavim · Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20

Shanah Tovah U’Metukah! Wishing you and your loved ones a sweet, happy and healthy 5786!

One of my spiritual practices is focusing on the positive. I’ve included several designs featuring positive words in the new ZenScribe platform, including this Rosh Hashana greeting.

As I mentioned last week, as a gift to the community, I am offering a FREE 30-day subscription to ZenScribe that you can use to quickly personalize a variety of High Holy Day resources, including:

Volunteer Appreciation Certificates
Rosh Hashanah Greeting Cards & Coloring Pages
High Holy Day Visual Tefillah Slides
Yizkor Graphics
Prayers for Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

*Start Your Free Trial Today (No credit card required—full access for 30 days)

*You can pick any plan– and I recommend choosing the Deluxe Community Plan, since it gives you the maximum number of designs. With it, you can create your own customized cards, certificates, prayers, visual tefillah, and more.

Torah Illumination

The Torah reminds us:

“Love God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
(Deuteronomy 30:6)

This week’s parasha, Nitzavim, always arrives at just the right moment: in the days leading up to the New Year. We stand together, poised between what has been and what will be, at the precipice of possibility.

At the Precipice

A Prayer for Parasha 51, Nitzavim

We stand together
on the precipice
of the new year
as it is about to unfold.

What joys and sorrows will it hold?

As we turn, return, and relearn
our Sacred Purpose
may we strengthen our connection
to the Source of All.

May embarking on a journey
of t’shuvah and reflection,
soul-searching and introspection,
help us hear—and answer— God’s call.

May this be the year we choose
to live our lives fully—
with passion, perspective
purpose and promise.

May the traditions
and teachings of our people
be an ongoing source
of strength and inspiration.

May we listen to the
still, small voice within
and may the unspoken prayer of our hearts
be answered and fulfilled.

Here’s a Visual Tefillah version of the prayer that you can find on ZenScribe.

Guided Journaling Questions

As you prepare for the New Year 5786, I invite you to reflect on these questions:

What does it mean to you to “stand at the precipice” of a new year?
Where do you most feel called to return — to yourself, to others, to God?
What traditions or teachings help you stay grounded and inspired?
How do you want to show up in the year ahead, and how can you open your heart more fully to love — both giving and receiving?
What unspoken prayer lives deep within your soul as you enter 5786?

Closing Blessing

In the year ahead,
may we be blessed with
the strength to heal,
the courage to hope,
the resilience to face what lies ahead,
and the ability to work together
to usher in an era of enduring peace.

Wishing you and your loved ones
a year of abundant blessings.