As my children prepare to head back to their respective schools, both here and in Israel, I am especially mindful of this late-summer time of transition, which for many of us brings both anxiety and anticipation.

Next week we mark the new month of Elul, which I often think of as “pre-season” for the High Holidays. It’s a time for reflection and introspection, for both looking back and looking forward.

As I reflect on this time of year, I draw meaning and inspiration from Jewish texts and tradition. When I was reading last week’s Torah portion, I was especially struck by the power of one word: “if.”

The Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), the fifth and final book of the Torah, contains no narrative, just Moses' last speeches on the banks of the Jordan River before the Israelites cross into the Promised Land. With exquisite rhetoric, Moses instructs his people who are coming of age and preparing to build their collective future.

Speaking to the second generation — who did not see or experience what their parents and grandparents did, like the splitting of the sea, the revelation at Sinai, and the miracles in the wilderness — Moses delivers messages about maturation and responsibility. In some passages, this includes the use of the Hebrew word “im” (meaning, “if”). For example, “If you listen to the words of God and keep the commandments, then blessings will follow[...]. If you do not, bad things will happen.” 

For millennia, Jews have wrestled with how to understand this traditional Jewish theology of reward and punishment. What I find so compelling about the word “if” is the simple yet profound notion that actions have consequences.

This can be scary, yes, but it is also empowering and hopeful. It’s a message to each generation about commitment and continuity: If we strive to learn, live, and teach our children the values and wisdom of our tradition, we can transmit a love of that tradition and inspire them to choose it for themselves.

On a moral level, the reminder of our human agency is an antidote to despair, especially in a world that can feel so overwhelming and out of control. There is so much that we cannot change; yet if we strive to make a positive impact, then we can change ourselves, our community, and our world for the better.

It certainly feels like we are at a crossroads, facing existential challenges both locally and globally. Like our ancestors on the banks of the Jordan River, we too must ask ourselves: How will the choices we make today write the story of tomorrow? The “if” of the Book of Devarim reminds us that we are Jewish history’s next generation. We must cross over and move forward, even in the face of challenges and even into the unknown.

What we do right now matters. If we act boldly, dream courageously, and make wise choices, we will build a more connected and joyful Jewish community and a better future for all.

I am filled with a profound sense of purpose and reverence for the work ahead.