In Parashat Nitzavim, Moshe continues his speech to the Jewish people before they enter Israel. He tells them that they must keep the Torah, and by doing so Hashem will help them. The entire Parashah teaches us valuable lessons of reward, punishment, and our role as Jews, but perhaps the most powerful part of the Parashah and the Torah as a whole is towards the end, where Moshe lets the Jews know that they are capable of keeping the Torah - that it is not too difficult: "Lo BaShamayim He," "It is not in the heavens;" "Velo Mei'Eiver Layam He," "Neither is it beyond the sea;" "Ki Karov Eilecha HaDavar Me'od Beficha UViLvavcha La'Asoto," "Rather the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it" (Devarim 30:12-14).

This speech is so meaningful because it gives the Jews hope and strength that they can fulfill Hashem's Torah. According to Seforno, Moshe is telling us that what Hashem wants is not so complicated. We don’t require prophets to explain it (Devarim 30:11 s.v. Lo Nifleit He Mimcha). Ibn Ezra teaches us that when the Pasuk says the Torah is not "Nifleit," (Devarim 30:11), it means either that it is not hidden from us or that it isn't a tiring burden on our backs (s.v. Nifleit). However we understand the Torah's message here, one thing is clear: we can do it.

Sometimes we find it difficult to keep all of the Torah. Whether we are hungry on Yom Kippur, too tired to learn, or struggling to focus during davening. It isn't always a cakewalk. But it is evident from this Parashah that Hashem knows we can succeed. If He wants us to do something, that means He knows it is within our reach. Hopefully this will give us the Chizuk to remain strong in our Avodat Hashem, even in the summer when we may feel less structure in our lives. Whenever we feel like we can't do it, remember the words that the great singer Eitan Katz named his beautiful song with: Ki Karov.