Two weeks ago, we read: “See, I have placed before you today, life and good, and death and evil… and you shall choose life!” [Dev. 30:15, 19]

Life is about choices. And the Torah tells us that life itself is a choice. Whether we have “a life” depends upon our own actions, our own decisions. This is not only true for life in the World to Come – it is true now. It is we who choose to build lives which will bring us fulfillment and happiness, “life” in the fullest sense, or to toss away our energies, to “kill ourselves” over nothing.

It is this ability to choose which distinguishes man from animal. An animal is guided by instinct, whereas human beings have the ability to overcome their “instinctive reactions” in favor of higher, more spiritual conduct. When we use that ability, we choose life. We give ourselves strength and fulfillment – we enliven ourselves. While we may not always realize it, it is the positive spiritual choices we make which provide growth and direction, which give us life.

Do we make the right choices? Do we make the right decisions? No, we all too frequently fail.

The Tefillah Zakkah, a penitential prayer written by Rabbi Avraham Danzig (the Chayei Adam) and read on the eve of Yom Kippur, says, “You differentiated man from animal, and yet I have not even been an animal.” What does this mean? If we have merely behaved like animals, how can we be “lower” than them?

The answer is that since an animal is controlled by its instincts, it cannot be blamed for its behavior. No animals of any species, even the fiercest carnivores, are “evil” – they quite literally have no choice. Their behavior is pre-programmed. We, however, have no such excuse. When we behave like animals, following our base instincts over spiritual dictates, we are far worse, far lower, than those animals. While the animal is following its course in life, we are turning away from life when we permit our lower natures to govern our behavior.

Yet we always can change direction. “And you shall choose life” speaks to the future. Whatever mistakes we made yesterday need not be made again tomorrow.

Just a few verses earlier, the Torah wrote: “For this mitzvah which I command you today — it is not hidden from you, nor is it far away.” [30:11] The Ramban (Nachmanides) says that this refers to the mitzvah of Teshuvah, as discussed in the previous verses. The Torah is telling us that no matter where we are, either physically or spiritually, Teshuvah is immediately available to us, “in your mouth and in your heart to do it.” [30:14]

If we have this ability on every day, the opportunity is practically forced upon us on Yom Kippur. We spend this one day confessing our previous misdeeds, regretting our actions, and committing ourselves to do better in the future. It is a day of cleansing. The scores are settled. All slates are cleared. And now we can chart out new paths for ourselves, correcting our previous errors and misdeeds to prevent them from being repeated.

And in the merit of this commitment, to move forward and to change for the better, may we all be sealed in the Book of Life for a year of abundant blessing and happiness.