Parshat Ki Tavo: Today

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“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.” — Benjamin Franklin

Parshat Ki Tavo, in its list of blessings and curses, repeatedly emphasizes the word ha-yom (“today” or “this day”). Why such stress on the present moment?

Rashi, commenting on the verse “The Lord your God commands you this day to observe these laws…”, explains that mitzvot should feel new each day, as though we are receiving them afresh at Sinai. The Chafetz Chaim offers another perspective: ha-yom, the emphasis on today, reminds us not to take our days for granted. Additionally, he teaches that real growth comes not through lofty, overwhelming long-term goals, but through small, achievable steps we commit to today.

This theme of ha-yom also runs through the Rosh Hashana liturgy: “Today is the birthday of the world… today all creatures stand in judgment.” The Netivot Shalom links this emphasis on ha-yom to hitchadshut (renewal)– teaching that Rosh Hashana, the day of creation according to Rabbi Eliezer, carries unique potential for new beginnings in our relationship with God and with one another. Similarly, in the haftarah of Rosh Hashana, ha-yom marks the day Hannah’s prayers for a child were finally answered—a reminder that each new day holds the possibility of hope and change.

This week, in Israel and in the U.S., we have seen too many precious lives cut short through terrorism and hatred. Ha-yom—so central in our parsha and on the day of judgment—calls us to treasure what we have, to believe in the power of prayer for what we yearn for, and to begin today the work of building a safer, kinder, and more humane world. Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson

Parshat Nitzavim & Rosh Hashanah: On Renewal Opportunities

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The word “hayom” (today) is repeated numerous times in parshat Nitzavim. On this final day of Moshe’s life, he gathers the people to renew the covenant with Bnei Yisrael: “You stand today, all of you, before God…” Hayom is also a significant word in Rosh Hashanah liturgy: “Today is the birthday of the world. Today all creatures of the world stand in judgment.” Why such emphasis on the word “today”?

Rashi explains the significance of the word “today” in Nitzavim: just as an individual day consists of a cycle of darkness and then light, so too, even if we as a nation endure dark times, God is ensuring that light and peaceful times will shine again. 

The Netivot Shalom provides another interpretation. He writes that Nitzavim and Rosh Hashanah both relate to the theme of renewal. In Nitzavim, the people are renewing a covenant with God. Rosh Hashanah – the day on which the world was created – is a day of “hitchadshut,” to renew ourselves and our relationship with God. This idea also connects to the daily Shema prayer, which frames each day as we say Shema in the morning and at bedtime. “And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart.” The midrash Sifrei comments on this verse: These words should not be like an antiquated edict but rather should be new to us each day. Today signals that each day is an opportunity for renewal and to find new meaning in Torah and mitzvot. 
The word “hayom” also appears in the haftorah on day one of Rosh Hashanah. After years of longing for a child, Hannah gets terribly upset and decides to take action, to pray. This significant change occurs “on that day (hayom).” A new day brought Hannah new hope and her prayers were answered. May this Rosh Hashanah be a time of meaningful renewal and may all our prayers be answered on this day. Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova -Karen Miller Jackson