This week’s Parsha, Nitzavim, is a continuation of Moshe’s final speech before his death. In his last words to the people of Israel he says,
“Concealed acts concern our God; but with overt acts, it is for us and our children to apply all the provisions of this Teaching forever.”
הַנִּ֨סְתָּרֹ֔ת לַה’ אֱ-לֹהֵ֑ינוּ וְהַנִּגְלֹ֞ת לָ֤ׄנׄוּׄ וּׄלְׄבָׄנֵ֙ׄיׄנׄוּ֙ׄ עַׄד־עוֹלָ֔ם לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֶת־כל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃
It is important to note the way this verse is written in print. The words of the Torah are holy and significant for their believed divine ordination. This includes the traditional way the words of the Torah are written in print. There are only eleven instances in the Torah where words have dots written on top of them. This verse is one of the eleven. Each instance has significant meaning and aims to bring something to our attention. So what do they mean and what can their presence in this week’s parsha teach us?
This verse, as most commentaries understand it, is explaining that hidden sins will be punished by God, but we, as a community, must punish public sins according to the Torah.
The Talmud writes the following in reference to our verse,
There are dots above the words “for us and our children,” and above the letter ayin in the word “forever.” Why? For this is what Ezra said: If Elijah comes and says to me: Why did you write it this way? I will say to him: I have already put dots above these words [to indicate I was not certain it was correct].”
Ezra, the Talmudic Sage, stated that the dots are meant to symbolize uncertainty about the written words. How could there be uncertainty in the words of the Bible?
Ezra is teaching a valuable lesson here by having us question the nature of punishment as our Jewish texts teach it.
Does the rare dotted line insinuate that punishment for public sins is controlled by people, when according to Biblical understanding, all punishments are actually given and controlled by God? Who has true authority over punishment, God or the people?
It seems that, for example, if a person murdered someone, the murderer is punished in court. This appears as though the punishment is entirely in the hands of the people. However, there is a lesson we can derive from this anomaly in the text. We must not forget that God is in control of all punishments and rewards. We must do our best to maintain order and justice within our society, but in the end, God will give people what they deserve.
Nowadays, we often feel like we are in control of everything. Society has become so expansive and modern, always undergoing rapid change. In the midst of today’s chaos, we must always remember that not everything is entirely in our control, and understand the value of relinquishing control to God, the true judge.
The written dots in this week’s Parsha are a reminder to this essential lesson. As Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, approaches, it is crucial to keep in mind that when we pray to God for a year filled with success and blessing, we must remember that He is in control of our future. On Rosh Hashanah we proclaim God as “King.” However, we must remember God is not just King over hidden moments in our lives, but over everything.
