Parashat Nitzavim contains the famous verse (Deut. 30:19): "הַחַיִּים וְהַמָּוֶת נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ, הַבְּרָכָה וְהַקְּלָלָה; וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים" This is often translated into English as: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life."
The phrase "choose life" from this verse has become a powerful idiomatic expression in the English language. It's used in various contexts: In motivational speaking and self-help literature, "choose life" often encourages positive life choices and attitudes. In ethical and medical discussions, particularly those involving end-of-life decisions or suicide prevention, "choose life" is sometimes invoked as a guiding principle. The pro-life anti-abortion movement in English-speaking countries has also adopted this phrase as its slogan.
The phrase gained pop culture prominence as a slogan in the 1996 film Trainspotting and its 2017 sequel, broadening its usage in everyday English, although the overall message in that film is more controversial and not related to the original biblical context.
A “CHOOSE LIFE” shirt was worn by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! in their video for the song Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go in the 1980s.