In this week's parashah, the Torah tells us that we are faced with choices in life: רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם אֶת הַחַיִּים וְאֶת הַטּוֹב וְאֶת הַמָּוֶת וְאֶת הָרָע, Behold I have placed before you today, life and good, and death and evil. The Torah then goes on to convey a seemingly obvious instruction: וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה אַתָּה וְזַרְעֶך, and you shall choose life, so that you and your children will live.
Why did the Torah find it necessary to direct us in such a “no-brainer” of a choice?
Secondly, if we “choose life” it seems obvious that it is so that [we] may live. And thirdly why mention our children?
Rashi (29:12) mentions that the fear of curses and punishments are critical motivators to encourage us behave properly. When actively engaged moral/ethical conflict with the Yetzer Hara, we are frequently more successful in vanquishing him through fear of imminent retribution than with the more abstract promise of reward.
Perhaps the Torah is here is telling us that although this sense of fear is vital to our proper behavior, we should primarily choose life. As much as possible, we should do the right thing not to avoid punishment, avoiding “death,” but we should actively choose life, embrace goodness for its own sake and for the blessing it brings.
And that it why the Torah mentions our children: The best way to inspire our children is through joy and the positive experience of uvachata bachayim, of our affirmatively embracing life/mitzvos. As they see us choosing life – so that we live joyfully and fulfilled – they, too will see and absorb how to live, and they too will choose life.
As Rosh Hashanah approaches, may we experience the joy of Torah and mitzvos, and may we all be granted chaim and berachah in every way for ourselves and our families.
Gut Shabbos and kesivah vachasimah tovah.
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