Nitzavim

Another Voice

Jess Gold is an eco musician and an environmental campaigner. She was elected on to the board of Friends of the Earth in September 2009. Her vision to become a songwriter was first inspired when she sang in Debbie Friedman’s (z"l) choir at the Limmud conference in 1994 and then attended the Hava Nashira song leaders seminar in 1995. She has recorded two albums of original songs, the first Jewish and the second eco themed. Her multi-media eco music resource for primary schools ‘Greening the world one song at a time’ is being launched at the beginning of 2012.

Rosh Hashanah is around the corner, a scary but exciting time. This big annual ‘teshuvah opportunity’ makes our tradition feel very dynamic to me. It implies that the behaviour choices of every individual are significant, a demanding although empowering stance.

This week’s parsha presents a warning that we should preserve the covenant with God and the Torah, with a description of the punishment liable if we break it but also provides us with the encouragement that "it is not beyond you nor is it remote from you. It is not in heaven... It is not across the sea.... Rather, it is very close to you, in your mouth, in your heart, that you may do it." (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

We can do it, we are told, we have free choice, we can choose life; it is within our reach. “See, I place before you today life and good, death and evil - choose life in order for you and your descendants to live” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

But what would the implications be if we took a collective and International focus on the ‘Choose life’ commandment? According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climatic changes already are estimated to cause over 150,000 deaths annually. There is a broad agreement amongst climate scientists that the principal reason for the global increase in temperatures is a century and a half of industrialization, with the burning of ever-greater quantities of oil, gasoline, and coal; the cutting of forests; and use of certain farming methods. With predictions of up to 150 million climate refugees being created by 2050, free choice for getting involved in the issue may be on the table, however the Pirkei Avot (2:16) “Lo alecha” assertive instruction, "It's not your job to finish the work, yet you are not free to disregard it either" seems more appropriate for our situation.

As I travel around singing songs and talking about climate campaigning, I often receive the response “I could turn my heating lower and put on a jumper, but what difference will that make, it is only one tiny action, when a whole sea of change is required?” Such a response brings me back to the key teachings in this parsha. Our choices are important, it is within our grasp and we have the individual and collective power to transform our own lives and those of others with a little help from the Great Spirit.

If you need any further encouragement then we can always turn to Bob the Builder and his number one hit, “Yes we can!” which topped the charts in 2000 selling 853,000 copies. The lyrical centerpiece of the song is Bob's catchphrase, "Can we fix it?” to which the other characters respond, "Yes we can!” “We can tackle any situation, look out 'cause here we come” it breezily continues.  You could say that the success of this song was simply a cynical exploitation of national pester power, however I believe that a song can only reach such dizzyingly popular heights if it touches our profound emotions, hopes or aspirations. It seems that parents want to ensure that their children hear such positive messages.

So lets be empowered by taking this parsha then coupling it with the instruction from Pirkei Avot, then sprinkling on a dash of Bob the Builder encouragement and take comfort in the knowledge that we can make a difference in our world because our decisions and commitments matter. It also says that if we behave well then we will be rewarded, that surely is an added bonus.