In parshat Vaetchanan, Moshe reiterates events of the past and gives rebuke to Bnei Yisrael. While giving this final speech before he dies, he told Bnei Yisrael, לֹ֣א אֶת־אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ כָּרַ֥ת ה’ אֶת־הַבְּרִ֣ית  (ה:ג)  הַזֹּ֑את כִּ֣י אִתָּ֔נוּ אֲנַ֨חְנוּ אֵ֥לֶּה פֹ֛ה הַיּ֖וֹם כֻּלָּ֥נוּ חַיִּֽים—which means that, “It wasn’t with our forefathers that Hashem had made this treaty and pact with but us, who stand here today.” We are the people of Israel that Moshe is speaking to!

The message Moshe is giving is a message for every Jew. We each made a covenant with Hashem. Hashem stood with every one of us, and gave us the most precious gift He could give us. Hashem gave us His love and the Torah. We must all recognize these special gifts that Hashem gave to each of us—who stand here today—and acknowledge that this covenant is more than a pact made long ago. Throughout our lives, we have tests, successes and daily events, which Hashem continues to keep these covenants with us. Hashem continually makes these acts of love, where He connects to each of us and willingly agrees to be our God, father, spouse and protector, and all that we need Him to be.

May we all see the Torah and love that Hashem gave us and remember that Hashem made a pact with us—not only the people who came before us.