According to

Rashi: Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105CE), French rabbi who wrote commentaries on the Torah, the Prophets and the Talmud, lived in Troyes where he founded a yeshiva in 1067; focuses on the plain meaning (p'shat) of the text, although sometimes quite cryptic in his brevity

At the end of the book of Yehoshua we read that, "Yeshoshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders of Israel, its heads, judges and officers" (Yehoshua 24:1, Living Nach). Even though the Mishkan was located at Shiloh, Avraham's first altar had been built at Shechem (B'reisheet 12:6-10) and Shechem is close to Mt. Eval and Mt. Gerizim where the blessings and curses had been pronounced. There, just as Moshe had done, Yehoshua in turn admonishes and challenges the people in their walk with G-d. The Sages suggest that, like Moshe before him, Yehoshua assembled the people to signal a change of regime, in this case from his authority to that of the elders (Tanchuma Nitzavim 1).

After the Exile we find Ezra summoning the whole community of Israel to assemble in Jerusalem (Ezra 10:7ff) to address the issues of intermarriage and fraternising with the pagan peoples in the Land. Similarly, a few years later, the people assembled again on the twenty fourth day of the seventh month (Nechemyah 9:11ff) to fast and make a solemn covenant before the L-rd. Israel is a community - a people - before G-d, not a collection of individuals. Whenever revival occurs in Israel, all our people are involved. That is why Yeshua's words: "For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, 'Baruch HaBa b'shem Adonai - Blessed is He who comes in the name of the L-rd'" (Matthew 23:39, NASB), have an important meaning: He will not return until the people of Israel cry out, not just individuals within our people.

Where does that leave us as we are preparing for the High Holy days this year: the Day of Trumpets, The Days of Awe and Yom HaKippurim, the Day of Atonements. Surely we too stand before G-d, all of us, whether natural or wild olive branches, and we have a covenant obligation to cry out to the L-rd as the prophet said, " - For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning" (Isaiah 61:1, NASB).

Further Study: Isaiah 62:6-9; Ezekiel 3:17-21

Application: If you have always seen yourself as an individual, ask G-d to show you your place as a member of His people. Ask Him to help you lift your voice together with His watchmen to cry out for Zion and the people of Israel.

© Jonathan Allen, 2004