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In one of this week's Parshiot, Parashat Nitzavim, there is a beautiful yet perplexing Pasuk presented to us. We are told “כִּ֚י הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם לֹא־נִפְלֵ֥את הִוא֙ מִמְּךָ֔ וְלֹ֥א רְחֹקָ֖ה הִֽוא׃”  (Devarim: 30:11) Then a few Pesukim later, we are told about this mitzvah, כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב אֵלֶ֛יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר” מְאֹ֑ד בְּפִ֥יךָ וּבִֽלְבָבְךָ֖ לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ”   (Devarim 30:14). What is this Mitzvah that we are told is close to us? What does it mean that the mitzvah is  not “Niflait” and in our heart and mouth?

The Bechor Shor and Ibn Ezra answer our second question, explaining that “Niflait” means a Peleh, a wonder, something man can’t do at all or easily. Hashem is telling us that this mitzvah is not something man impossible, but rather, something close to us and doable. The Seforno takes a different approach, explaining that this Mitzvah isn’t something that requires us to go to a Navi or a Talmid Chacham to do properly. It is something that anyone can do, no matter where they live or their situation. 

But what does it mean the Mitzvah is in our mouth and heart? To understand this, we must establish what the Mitzvah is. According to Rashi, the mitzvah that is closest to us is the Mitzvah of Talmud Torah. This is a beautiful message to all of us. The Torah is always in our heart as we internalize the messages it teaches, and is always in our mouth as we are learning it. Even if you feel distant from the Torah, it is always attainable and approachable. Hashem and his Torah are always closer than you think.

Alternatively, from the Ramban’s Peshat, we can take an incredible lesson. The Ramban says that the Mitzvah the Torah is referring to is Teshuvah. The reason the Torah says it is in our hearts and our mouths is because the two parts of Teshuvah are redirecting your heart to serve Hashem and confessing our sins. The meaning of this Ramban is that you are always able to do Teshuvah, no matter how far you feel from Hashem and his Torah. Teshuvah is always attainable, and Hashem anxiously awaits for us to turn our hearts back to him. We have spent almost a month now in Elul on introspection and Teshuvah. But even if you haven’t spent any time doing Teshuvah, it is still attainable. Hashem tells us no matter what point we are at, Hashem will accept us with open arms if we do proper teshuva.  B”Ezrat Hashem, we will attain the Teshuvah that Hashem tells us is close to us and doable and keep the Torah in our hearts and mouths.