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R’eih – רְאֵה (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: R’eih – רְאֵה (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17)

“See, this day I set before you blessing and curse” (Deuteronomy 11:26 )

We are blessed with the ability to know what is a blessing and what is a curse, what is good and what is bad, what is moral and what is wrong, what is just and what is not. We are blessed with the ability to choose to do the right thing.

As we are entering the month of Elul, the last month of the Hebrew year, and preparing ourselves for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we are also examining our actions in the past year, and determining how to make sure we chose right and chose the blessings.

Parsha R’eih – רְאֵה Torah Summary:

God places both blessing and curse before the Israelites. They are taught that blessing will come through the observance of God’s laws. (11:26–32) Moses’ third discourse includes laws about worship in a central place (12:1–28); injunctions against idolatry (12:29–13:19) and self-mutilation (14:1–2); dietary rules (14:3–21); and laws about tithes (14:22–25), debt remission (15:1–11), the release and treatment of Hebrew slaves (15:12–18), and firstlings (15:19–23). Moses reviews the correct sacrifices to be offered during the Pilgrim Festivals—Pesach, Sukkot, and Shavuot. (16:1-17) R’eih – רְאֵה

Eikev – עֵקֶב (Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Eikev – עֵקֶב (Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25)

“You shall faithfully observe all the Instruction that I enjoin upon you today, that you may thrive and increase and be able to possess the land that יהוה promised on oath to your fathers. Take care lest you forget your God יהוה and fail to keep the divine commandments, rules, and laws which I enjoin upon you today. If you do forget your God יהוה and follow other gods to serve them or bow down to them, I warn you this day that you shall certainly perish;” Deut 8:1, 8:11, 8:19

Parsha Eikev is my Bat Mitzvah Torah portion. I barely remember what I spoke about; the day was a blur. A few years ago, I asked my mom, “do you remember what I talked about at my Bat Mitzvah?” All we remembered was something involving reward and punishment. On the surface, we were correct. Examining reward vs. punishment or blessing vs. curses as an adult offers a deeper insight into these concepts. This text is about serving our highest good and the highest good of our community. If we uphold the best rules and regulations of our community (in Eikev’s case, God’s commandments), we will reap all of the benefits and blessings of fruitful and abundant life. If we make a misstep, forget God, forget our “highest good,” then we will face difficulty. Will we perish, as God clearly states in Torah? I do not think we will be struck down by lightening or by some physical form of God’s wrath, but I do believe that if we are in service of only our lowest selves, our sole ego and own wants and needs in the negation of others, we will face tremendous struggle. Only considering our immediate base wants and needs and ignoring our community’s more essential goals prevents us from building fruitful relationships. We become disconnected and solitary rather than connected and engaged. This week, consider how you might serve your highest purpose and the highest purpose of those around you.

Parsha Eikev – עֵקֶב Torah Summary:

Moses tells the Israelites that if they follow God’s laws, the nations who now dwell across the Jordan River will not harm them. (7:12–26) Moses reminds the people of the virtues of keeping God’s commandments. He also tells them that they will dispossess those who now live in the Land only because they are idolatrous, not because the Israelites are uncommonly virtuous. Thereupon, Moses reviews all of the trespasses of the Israelites against God. (8:1–10:11) Moses says that the Land of Israel will overflow with milk and honey if the people obey God’s commandments and teach them to their children. (10:12–11:25) Eikev – עֵקֶב

Va-et’chanan – וָאֶתְחַנַּן (Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Va-et’chanan – וָאֶתְחַנַּן (Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11)

שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֶחָֽד
Sh’ma Yis’rael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad!
Deut:6:4

This week’s Torah portion Vaetchanan contains within it the central platform of our Jewish faith. Adonai is our God, Adonai is One. Each time we pray, we declare God’s oneness with these words. This is not the first time this sentiment appears in Torah. Just two chapters before this declaration Moses espouses:

אַתָּה֙ הׇרְאֵ֣תָ לָדַ֔עַת כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֣וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ין ע֖וֹד מִלְּבַדּֽוֹ
It has been clearly demonstrated to you that the LORD alone is God; there is none beside Him.
-Deut:4:35

Chasidic Rabbi Judah Zvi of Stretyn explains “there are two names of God in this verse: Adonai and Elohim: Eternal and God.” Adonai represents the divine attribute mercy, while Elohim represents its counterpart, the divine attribute of justice. Rabbi Judah continues, “in reality [these two attributes and names] are one.” God is both justice and mercy; all encompassing oneness between two seeming opposites. When we cry Adonai Echad we recognize this embracing oneness of the Divine. You may notice that there are two bolded enlarged words in our opening verse. Together, they create the word עד eid, witness. The opening word, Shema is the commandment- “listen!” When we pray these words, we are witness to the presence of Adonai. At this moment of our prayer service, we should be fully present, both physically, with our ears listening, and spiritually, allowing ourselves to move beyond the mundane into the sacred. This week, take a moment to consider, what moves you beyond the mundane to the sacred?

Parsha Va-et’chanan – וָאֶתְחַנַּן Torah Summary:

Moses pleads with God to let him enter the Land of Israel with the people, but God once more refuses his request. (3:23–28) Moses orders the Children of Israel to pay attention and follow the laws given by God in order to be worthy of the land they are about to receive. (4:1–40) Specific areas of the land are set aside to serve as cities of refuge. (4:41–43) The covenant at Sinai and the Ten Commandments are recalled. Once again, the people are exhorted to heed God’s commandments. (5:1–30) Moses speaks the words of the Sh’ma, the credo of Judaism, and commands Israel to show their love for Adonai and keep God’s laws and ordinances. (6:1–25) Moses warns the people not to commit idolatry by worshiping the gods of the nations they will conquer in Israel. (7:1–11) Va-et’chanan – וָאֶתְחַנַּן

D’varim – דְבָרִים (Deuteronomy 1:1−3:22)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: D’varim – דְבָרִים (Deuteronomy 1:1−3:22)

…אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים
“These are the words Moses spoke to the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan.”
-Deuteronomy 1:1

Devarim means words, and Moses holds many words he wishes to gift his people; much of this book is that gift. Moses goes deep, re-telling the battle stories that have led to their present. Moses reminds the Israelites, “each time [we entered a new land] God instructed us on whether the people would allow us to pass peacefully, or through battle—now you are ready …have no fear, God fights for you when it is time to fight.” Moses’ message to his people is an example of practicing gratitude. Moses reminds the Israelites that their past will continue to inform their future; he encourages his people they are ready for this next step. Finally, Moses reminds the people that they have achieved their goal through a partnership with God. It took hard work and faith in the Divine to step into the final journey forward. As we reach pinnacle moments in our lives, let us take the time to reflect on our progress, remember that we are ready to take the next step, however big it might be, and offer up our gratitude to those seen and unseen that have helped us along the way.

Parsha D’varim – דְבָרִים Torah Summary:

Moses begins his final words of instruction to the Children of Israel, focusing first on recounting their physical journey. (1:1–21) Moses reviews the people’s reactions to the negative reports of the spies and the appointment of Joshua to succeed him. (1:22–45) Moses recounts that all of the Israelite warriors who left Egypt died, as God had intended, and the people continued their wanderings and defeated their enemies. (2:14–3:11) Moses reiterates that the Land of Israel was allocated to the Israelite tribes. (3:12–22) D’varim – דְבָרִים