Deuteronomy · Weekly Torah portion
Parashat Nitzavimנִצָּבִים
Torah reading
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20
Haftarah
Isaiah 61:10-63:9
What happens in Nitzavim
'You stand this day, all of you, before God' — leaders and woodchoppers, elders and children, and even those not yet born: the covenant binds every generation. Nitzavim insists the Torah is within reach — 'not in heaven... but very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart' — and stakes everything on choice: 'I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life.' It is read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.
Big themes
- Everyone stands together
- Torah within reach
- Choose life
If this is your bar or bat mitzvah portion
'It is not in heaven' — Torah isn't reserved for scholars or saints; it's in your mouth, especially when you chant it. And 'choose life' may be the Torah's shortest summary of everything. The covenant explicitly includes those not there that day: that means you.
Learning to chant Nitzavim?
Ready 13 builds a verse-by-verse practice plan for this exact portion — chanted reference audio, karaoke highlighting, trope games, and a countdown that keeps the big day on track.
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