Chevre, this week’s parsha is נִצָּבִ֤ים (Nitzavim). There are times when folks get into things and they feel that it’s an impossible task. I personally feel this way when I start learning for a new AWS Certification. However, with some perseverance, patience and a lot of work, it’s possible to achieve. The parsha this week tells us that the Torah too is not in Heaven, but is in the world and attainable. This section was used during a famous story in the Gemara. There was a debate around a certain kind of oven and if it was able to be made kosher. Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurcanus was in the minority opinion. Unlike most machlokets in the Gemara, instead of bringing a textual proof, he said “If the halacha is like me, this tree will show it” and the tree moved. The sages said we don’t learn halacha from trees. He said “If the halacha is like me, this river will show it” and the river started flowing backwards. The sages said we don’t learn halacha from rivers. He said “If the halacha is likeme, the Beit Midrash will prove it” and the Beit Midrash started to crash around them until Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiah reprimanded the Beit Midrash for interfering in the debate. Finally, he said, “If the halacha is like me, Heaven will show it” and a voice from Heaven said “the halacha is like Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurcanus”. And the sages retorted, “the Torah is no longer in Heaven, but given to us at Sinai. To which G-d responded ”My children have triumphed over Me, My children have triumphed over Me.“ May we be ever raising the bar for good. Shabbat Shalom