Nitzavim
“You Are Standing”
The name of the fifty-first reading from the Torah is Nitzavim, which means “standing.” The name is derived from the first verse of the portion in which Moses says, “You shall stand [nitzavim] today, all of you, before the LORD your God” (Deut 29:10).
In this portion, Moses invites the entire assembly of Israel to take on the covenant. He warns them that if they sin, they will go into exile, but he also predicts that, in the future, they will repent and God will return them to the land of Israel. In some years Nitzavim is read together with the next Torah portion, Vayelech on the same Shabbat.
Deut 29:10-30:20
Isaiah 61:10:63:9
Romans 16:10; Romans 11:25-29; Luke 15:17-24
Vayelech “And He Went”
The name of the fifty-second reading from the Torah is Vayelech which means “and he went.” The name is derived from the first word of the first verse in the portion: “So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel”
In this short portion, Moses commands an assembly for a public Torah reading and covenant renewal once every seven years. He then finished writing the scroll of the Torah and has it deposited in the holy of holies next to the Ark of the Covenant.
Deuteronomy 31:1-30