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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)

“You will be doing what is good and right in the sight of your God יהוה.” Deuteronomy 12:28. What does it mean to do what is right and good in the sight of God? It means that we are capable of knowing what is good in the eyes of God. The Torah cannot cover it all, and the Torah is not always right. It is up to us to make the right and moral decision!!!

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 “You will be doing what is good and right in the sight of your God יהוה.” Deuteronomy 12:28. What does it mean to do what is right and good in the sight of God? It means that we are capable of knowing what is good in the eyes of God. The Torah cannot cover it all, and the Torah is not always right. It is up to us to make the right and moral decision!!! 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)

JLAB First Day 2024

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Such a great day for JLAB’s First Day

JLAB is starting! We have been working hard over the past year to bring our reimagination to fruition, and we are ready to launch. Our experiential education brings activity centers, learning tracks, opportunities for individual discovery and growth, specialists and electives and community building together to enrich and support our students lives.

We are ready to start our journey down our new path together.

JLAB is starting! We have been working hard over the past year to bring our reimagination to fruition, and we are ready to launch. Our experiential education brings activity centers, learning tracks, opportunities for individual discovery and growth, specialists and electives and community building together to enrich and support our students lives. We are ready to start our journey down our new path together.

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

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

“Do not stand in dread of them, for your God יהוה is in your midst, a great and awesome God” Deuteronomy 7:21. This might sound familiar as it echoes the first blessing at the Tefillah, the central part of our prayer service. In the Talmud, the rabbis point out that Jeremiah and Daniel changed the words of the blessing because sometimes reality does not reflect that our God is great and mighty and the rabbis state that our God hates lies.

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 “Do not stand in dread of them, for your God יהוה is in your midst, a great and awesome God” Deuteronomy 7:21. This might sound familiar as it echoes the first blessing at the Tefillah, the central part of our prayer service. In the Talmud, the rabbis point out that Jeremiah and Daniel changed the words of the blessing because sometimes reality does not reflect that our God is great and mighty and the rabbis state that our God hates lies. 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׃

Listen, Israel! Adonai is our God; Adonai is [in the] One[ness]. . 

The Sh’ma is such a powerful statement — we, as Israel, are commanded: “Listen, Israel!” The next word, however, is the four-letter Name of God, the name we are commanded not to pronounce because it is so holy. The Sh’ma serves as a reminder to listen for holiness — opening ourselves for something so holy, that we can’t even imagine producing the sound alone. The Sh’ma also reminds us that holiness can be found in the One — the Oneness of God, the oneness of community, and the oneness of the natural world around us. This Shabbat, may we all have the courage to open ourselves to the possibility of that holy oneness, truly listening and connecting beyond ourselves. 

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)

“These are the stories that Moses told to all of Israel, on the far side of the Jordan, in the wilderness…” (Deuteronomy 1:1) 

The Book of Deuteronomy, or D’varim in Hebrew, is perhaps the most unique book of the Torah because it retells the story of the Israelites through the eyes of Moses. As we, the readers, traverse the story again from Moses’ point of view, we are invited to empower ourselves, just as Moses did, to tell the narrative of our own lives and shape the legacy we each want to leave behind. May we each have the chutzpah (the audacity and courage), and the wisdom to live lives we are proud of.

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

Matot – Mas’ei – מַטּוֹת – מַסְעֵי (Numbers 30:2–36:13)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Matot – Mas’ei – מַטּוֹת – מַסְעֵי (Numbers 30:2–36:13)

“These are the travels of the Children of Israel, who came out of the land of Egypt in groups, at the command of Moses and Aaron.” (Numbers 33:1). 

In a section of the Torah that focuses heavily on conflict, survival, and law, the Torah interrupts itself by briefly recalling all the places the Israelites traveled on their journey. In doing so, the Torah reminds us just how important it is to interrupt our busy lives to take time and reflect on all the pivotal moments along our journeys. By looking back, we are also invited to look forward, empowering ourselves to reclaim and shape the narrative of our lives as they unfold. 

Parsha Matot – Mas’ei – מַטּוֹת – מַסְעֵי Torah Summary:

Moses explains to the Israelites the laws concerning vows made by men and women. (30:2—17) Israel wages war against the Midianites. (31:1—18) The laws regarding the spoils of war are outlined. (31:19—54) The tribes of Reuben and Gad are granted permission to stay on the east bank of the Jordan River. (32:1—42) The itinerary of the Israelites through the wilderness from Egypt to Jordan is delineated. (33:1-49) Moses tells Israel to remove the current inhabitants of the land that God will give them and to destroy their gods. (33:50-56) The boundaries of the Land of Israel are defined, along with those of the Levitical cities and the cities of refuge. (34:1-35:15) God makes a precise distinction between murder and manslaughter. (35:16-34) The laws of inheritance as they apply to Israelite women are delineated. (36:1-13) Matot – Mas’ei – מַטּוֹת – מַסְעֵי