Parshas Nitzavim - aspects of the Torah and aspects of the Jewish people
The passuk says in the week’s sedrah אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם רָאשֵׁיכֶם שִׁבְטֵיכֶם זִקְנֵיכֶם וְשֹׁטְרֵיכֶם כֹּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל “All of you are standing today before Hashem your G-d, your leaders, your tribes, your elders and your officers, every man from the בני ישראל .” The Medrash Tanchuma comments on this passuk ראשיכם שבטיכם - אף על פי שמיניתי לכם ראשים, זקנים ושוטרים, כולכם שווים לפני, שנאמר, כל איש ישראל. “Even though I appointed for you leaders, elders and officers, you are all equal before me, which is why the passuk concludes כל איש ישראל .” According to the Medrash Tanchuma, the translation of כֹּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל is not, "Your leaders, your tribes, your elders and your officers, and also everyone else from the בני ישראל .” Rather the translation of כֹּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל is literally “every man of the בני ישראל ”, which includes the leaders, tribes, elders and officers. If so, the passuk has referred to th...