Welcome to Bet Ami Messianic Congregation! Join us for this week's Shabbat service as we study the powerful double Torah portion Nitzavim–Vayeilech, as Moses brings Israel to a defining moment before entering the Promised Land.

• 📖 Torah Portion: Nitzavim–Vayeilech — Deuteronomy 29:9–31:30
• 📖 Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10–63:9
• 📅 Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026 (23 Elul 5786)
• 🎤 Speaker: Robin Bales

Note: There was no video this week due to technical complications.

Choose Life: Standing Before God

Nitzavim means "standing"—and Moses tells Israel that all of them are standing before the Lord: leaders and elders, men and women, children and the stranger living among them.

Everyone is included in the covenant.

As Moses prepares Israel for the transition into a new generation, he reminds them that God's Word is not impossibly distant. It is not "in heaven" or beyond their reach. The choice is placed before them:

Life and prosperity—or death and adversity.

And Moses gives them the answer:

"Choose life."

Nitzavim also speaks profoundly about returning to God. When His people turn back to Him with their hearts, God promises restoration. This makes the portion especially meaningful during Elul, a season traditionally associated with repentance, reflection, and preparation for the coming High Holy Days.

Then Vayeilech begins with Moses preparing Israel for his departure. Joshua is commissioned to lead the people forward, while Moses instructs Israel to gather and hear the Torah publicly. The leadership may change, but God's covenant and His Word remain.

As we approach the end of the Torah cycle and the beginning of a new year, this week's portion asks each of us:

• Where are you standing before God?
• What are you choosing?
• And are you ready to move forward in faith?

Join us as we explore Nitzavim–Vayeilech and discover what it means to stand firmly in God's covenant, return to Him wholeheartedly, and choose life.