In Parshat Nitzavim, Moshe tells Israel they are about to “pass over” into Hashem’s covenant. Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch explains: accepting Torah is not dabbling — it’s crossing a Rubicon, a total commitment that changes how we see every aspect of life.
Judaism is like marriage. You cannot dabble in it. You must leap into it. Only with full commitment does everything look different.
That is exactly what Moshe tells the Jewish people in this week’s parsha:
“You are about to pass over into the covenant of Hashem.” (Devarim 29:11)
Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch notes the unusual language. Moshe doesn’t say “enter” the covenant — he says “pass over.” Accepting the Torah means crossing a line of no return, as Julius Caesar did at the Rubicon. Once you cross, everything changes.
“If you want to enter the covenant with G-d,” writes Rav Hirsch, “you must leave the whole standpoint you had hitherto. … Having entered into the covenant with G-d, you stand on quite a different mental point of view than before.”
Torah-Colored Glasses
To embrace Torah means to see the entire world differently. Others look through rose-colored glasses; the Jew looks through Torah-colored glasses. Every action, every choice, every moment becomes a question of: What does Hashem think?
- What does He think about what I eat?
- About this video I’m watching?
- About my vote in the election?
- About my family relations, my community disputes, my nation’s future?
The Leap Into Truth
Torah is not a burden but a blessing — a divine guide to every dimension of life. But it must be accepted wholly, not partially. You cannot stand with one foot inside and one foot outside. As Rav Hirsch explains, you must “pass over” into the Torah’s reality.
In modern terms? It’s like The Matrix. Torah is the red pill. Take it, and you awaken to ultimate truth.
It’s a leap that forever alters life — but it is the leap into purpose, covenant, and destiny.
Rav Hirsch’s Legacy
Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888) led German Jewry with brilliance and courage for over 35 years, saving thousands from assimilation with his fiery writings. His message endures: Judaism requires total commitment — and total commitment brings eternal clarity.
— Elliot Resnick, PhD, author/editor of 10 books, including The Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch Dictionary
