I recently heard a story about a boy who waved a small yellow flag, waiting for the captain to honk the horn of his giant ship. Despite the many people who told the boy that this could not be done because the captain of the big ship wouldn’t see a small boy with a small flag, the little boy continued to wave the flag until the captain tooted the horn. The adults, shocked that the captain did see him, went to the boy and asked how he was certain that the captain would see him. The boy replied, “The captain is my father and he told me that when I am sad or need to feel noticed to wave my flag, and when he notices, he will toot his boat horn as a reminder that he is here with me.

This can be seen in one of two ways. It can be seen as Hashem noticing and being there for us despite the curses he needed to send us or the wrongdoings we’ve made. Additionally, it can also be seen as the child who despite not always being close to His father— through Torah and Mitzvot, a child who may be getting curses and not blessings, recognizing the truth of Hashem and waiting to see the good. A child waiting to see the curses become blessings and waiting for his father, Hashem, to bring him back home. This is the theme of this week’s parshiot, Nitzavim and Vayelech.

Hashem is saying, I am the one who turns the curses into blessings. I am the one who gave you the Torah and I love you and know you know what is right. I had the Torah read to each one of you when you were born! I am always there. Wave the flag once You see me. Once you notice me after the curses, I will change the curses to blessings. And once you notice me in the blessings, I will continue to bless you. May we all see Hashem’s hand in the curses and blessings and may we see Him change the curses to blessings. May we always connect ourselves to Torah and mitzvot and may Hashem toot the horn and bring us to our land.

Shira Sedek is a passionate educator at Ramaz Middle School in New York City who loves teaching Torah and inspiring her students.