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Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20)

“All of you are standing today before Adonai your God – you leaders, elders, officials, and all the men of Israel, your children, wives, and the Strangers in your midst … I am making this covenant,  … not only with you … But also with those who are not here today” (Deuteronomy 29:9-14). All of us are part of the covenant between Adonai our God and everyone who was there in Sinai when the covenant was made. Even if we were not there in body, our spirits were there and we are part of it.

This Week’s Torah Portion: Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20)“All of you are standing today before Adonai your God— you leaders, elders, officials, and all the men of Israel, your children, wives, and the Strangers in your midst…I am making this covenant, …not only with you…But also with those who are not here today” (Deuteronomy 29:9-14). All of us are part of the covenant between Adonai our God and everyone who was there in Sinai when the covenant was made. Even if we were not there in body, our spirits were there and we are part of it.

Nitzavim Summary:
Moses tells the assembled people that God’s covenant speaks to them and to all of the generations who will follow. (29:9–14)
God warns the Israelites that they will be punished if they act idolatrously, the way the inhabitants of the other nations do. (29:15–28)
Moses reassures the people that God will not forsake them and that they can attain blessings by following God’s commandments. (30:1–20)

JFCS Trip

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The Temple 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade Religious School classes took a JFCS trip and participated in a community day and sorted food for the JFCS pantry. What a great mitzvah opportunity. #thetemple502

THE CHESTER B. DIAMOND RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
MISSION STATEMENT 

Our learning community strives to create a caring atmosphere of friendship while encouraging meaningful understanding and a dedicated commitment to Jewish life – in school and at home.  The wonderful teaching faculty is diligent that all classroom experiences are valuable and nurture a positive Jewish identity.  In addition, our goal is for each student to participate in enjoyable experiences that are part of Temple life, be exposed to and internalize our biblical stories, and to embrace Jewish culture as well as Reform ethical beliefs and values.

The Religious School curriculum encourages the understanding of:

  • Shabbat, Jewish holidays, and Jewish symbols
  • Blessings, customs, and life cycle events
  • Torah stories and their relevance in our lives today
  • Mitzvot (commandments, values, and good deeds)
  • Connections between Torah, worship, and our lives
  • An appreciation for the people and State of Israel
  • The history of the Jewish people
  • The Holocaust and  anti-Semitism
  • Jewish music, arts & crafts, and children’s literature
  • Tzedakah projects and social action
  • JFCS Trip

Components of our Hebrew curriculum:

  • Kindergarten through 3rd grade: reading readiness, basic vocabulary and daily prayers
  • 4th through 7th grade: prayer-based Hebrew, reading fluency and comprehension of liturgy
  • Meets Sunday and Wednesday (4th-7th grade) Weekly student-led services with music

Family Programming
Monthly student-led Friday evening Shabbat Services followed by an Oneg Shabbat.
Each grade leads a Shabbat or other holiday Service on a specific month to enhance the student service-leading experience.
“Judaica to the Home” project honors participating students with a Jewish gift at the end of their service. These gifts include: Jewish star necklace, mezuzah, prayer book, Shabbat candlesticks, yad, and other Judaica items.
A traditional Jewish dinner and activities are offered each month prior to the Family Service.
The Blue Jean Family Shabbat (May and August) is an informal service and dinner that includes a Tot Shabbat for our pre-school age children.
JFCS Trip

Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8)

This week’s Torah Portion begins with the ritual offering of First Fruits which contains within it the famous phrase from the Passover Seder: “My father was a wandering Aramean…” These words were meant as a reminder that the bounty of our harvest was a gift from God which we who were once wanderers without a land of our own are commanded to share with the less fortunate in our society, those who still wander without a home.

At the end of this carefully scripted ritual come the words: “I have not forgotten.”
The lesson of these words is a simple sermon on the meaning and the purpose of our lives.
When you hold in your hands the first fruits of the harvest of life’s blessings, remember.
Remember and give thanks. Remember to share your blessings. Remember where you came from every step along life’s path. Remember those who helped you to reach this day of blessing. Remember.

Ki Tavo Summary:
The Israelites are instructed to express their gratitude to God for their bountiful harvests and freedom from slavery by tithing ten percent of their crops for the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. (26)
The people are told to display on large stones God’s commandments for all to see. (27:1-8)
The Levites are to proclaim curses upon those who violate God’s commandments. (27:15-26)
The Israelites are told that if they obey God’s mitzvot faithfully, they will receive every blessing imaginable. They are also told that if do not fulfill their brit with God, many curses will descend upon them. (28:1-69)
Moses reminds the Israelites of the miracles they witnessed in the wilderness and commands them to observe the terms of the covenant so that they may succeed in all that they undertake. (29:1-8)

Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19)

This week’s Torah Portion is a cacophonous collection of odd laws and commandments with no apparent order or overarching purpose: We begin with rules of war, followed by laws regarding family, animals, and property; Civil and criminal laws are delineated, laws of sexual relationships, interaction with non-Jews, loans, vows, and divorce; various business laws: fair wages, proper weights and measures. It all sounds like a run on sentence that lasts for four chapters in the book of Deuteronomy, and then it ends with a call to Remember Amalek and all that they had struggled against in their journey from slavery to freedom – now ready to enter the Promised Land.

And then we understand, Moses is saying goodbye. The Children of Israel are stepping forward into their own future. And, like a parent sending a child off to College or to War, or to Work in a far away land, Moses is just rattling off all his final instructions on how to live a good and prosperous life and most importantly, how important it is to remember who you are and how you came here.

Ki Tietzei is a parents prayer, scattered perhaps but heartfelt, a blessing of sorts that we might remember how we came to be standing here this week, so many thousands of years after we set forth on this journey. Ki Teitzei is a blessing from Moses and a hope of remembrance. May this be our blessing.

Ki Teitzei Summary:
Moses reviews a wide variety of laws regarding family, animals, and property. (21:10–22:12)
Various civil and criminal laws are delineated, including those regarding sexual relationships, interaction with non-Israelites, loans, vows, and divorce. (22:13–24:5)
Laws of commerce pertaining to loans, fair wages, and proper weights and measures are given. (24:10–25:16)
The parashah concludes with the commandment to remember for all time the most heinous act committed against the Israelites—Amalek’s killing of the old, weak, and infirm after the Israelites left Egypt. (25:17–19)

Shof’tim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Shof’tim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

How many trees are there in the Redwood forest? On the surface, the answer to this question seems unimaginably large. And yet, beneath the surface of the question there lies a deeper response:
One.

Above the surface, the old growth trees of the Redwood National Park cover nearly 39,000 acres of centuries old majestic forest. But, beneath the surface the roots of the trees grow deep and wide intertwining with one another, spreading out their tendrils, reaching out to one another just as they reach deep within the earth. Together they form one vast organism, one living thing, whose life is dependent upon the sum of its parts.

In this week’s portion Shoftim we read:
When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the axe against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human beings to withdraw before you into the besieged city? (Deuteronomy 20:19)

The great Spanish commentator Ibn Ezra read the last part of this verse not as a question, but as a statement. “The trees of the field are human beings.” And to destroy one human being is to destroy an entire world. These are the roots of our Jewish value to heal and protect the earth.

We are all one. We are all a part of one life and one living being. When we destroy any part of our world, we destroy ourselves.

Shof’tim Summary:
Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8)
The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22)
God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13)
Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9)
Sue Sobel

Sue Sobel

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Names Sue Sobel

Ages 70

How long have you been a member of The Temple? 44 years

Why did you decide to join The Temple? I married Tom and his family had been long-standing members.

What do you do for a living? I am a retired JCPS art teacher and currently doing art therapy with seniors.

What is your favorite Temple memory? Watching our daughter, Lisa, sing with Shir Chadash in concert with Debbie Friedman. Lisa was thrilled to meet Debbie!

Farthest you have traveled: India in 2015 with Lisa and Benji for Lisa’s college roommate’s wedding.

How did I meet my spouse? I met Tom on a blind date. His childhood friend, Martin Kasdan, was dating my roommate. She wanted me to meet Tom, “a very enterprising, young man.”

Interests and hobbies: I am a member of LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists) and enjoy making wearable art. I take advantage of Louisville’s thriving arts scene!

Volunteer activity: Through The Temple’s Caring Committee and JFCS Shabbos Friends, I visit the Jewish seniors at Treyton Oak Towers.

Pets Fannie, our 6th English Springer Spaniel. We love the affable breed and have rescued several through ESRA.

Have I lived anywhere else? I grew up in Princeton, NJ.

Names Sue Sobel

Ages 70

How long have you been a member of The Temple? 44 years

Why did you decide to join The Temple? I married Tom and his family had been long-standing members.

What do you do for a living? I am a retired JCPS art teacher and currently doing art therapy with seniors.

What is your favorite Temple memory? Watching our daughter, Lisa, sing with Shir Chadash in concert with Debbie Friedman. Lisa was thrilled to meet Debbie!

Farthest you have traveled: India in 2015 with Lisa and Benji for Lisa’s college roommate’s wedding.

How did I meet my spouse? I met Tom on a blind date. His childhood friend, Martin Kasdan, was dating my roommate. She wanted me to meet Tom, “a very enterprising, young man.”

Interests and hobbies: I am a member of LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists) and enjoy making wearable art. I take advantage of Louisville’s thriving arts scene!

Volunteer activity: Through The Temple’s Caring Committee and JFCS Shabbos Friends, I visit the Jewish seniors at Treyton Oak Towers.

Pets Fannie, our 6th English Springer Spaniel. We love the affable breed and have rescued several through ESRA.

Have I lived anywhere else? I grew up in Princeton, NJ.