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Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

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

שֹׁפְטִ֣ים וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים תִּֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִשְׁפַּט־צֶֽדֶק׃

Judges and officials shall you appoint for yourself, in each of your dwellings that Adonai your God is giving to you, for each of your tribes, that they may govern the people with charitable justice. – Deuteronomy 16:18

In commanding the Israelites to appoint officials for themselves, God reminds our ancestors and us that true justice is pursued through Tzedek, through loving, righteous, charitable intention. May we strive to be loving, righteous, charitable, and intentional in all the decisions we make in our own lives, no matter how small they may seem.

Parsha Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים Torah 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) Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים שֹׁפְטִ֣ים וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים תִּֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִשְׁפַּט־צֶֽדֶק׃ Judges and officials shall you appoint for yourself, in each of your dwellings that Adonai your God is giving to you, for each of your tribes, that they may govern the people with charitable justice. – Deuteronomy 16:18 In commanding the Israelites to appoint officials for themselves, God reminds our ancestors and us that true justice is pursued through Tzedek, through loving, righteous, charitable intention. May we strive to be loving, righteous, charitable, and intentional in all the decisions we make in our own lives, no matter how small they may seem. 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)

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)

רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃

See, I am putting before you today blessing and curse… – Deuteronomy 11:26

The Torah reminds us that each of us has an incredible amount of agency in our world. The words we say and the things we do can either serve us and others as a blessing or a curse. May we have the wisdom to recognize that each of us is a blessing, and we have the power to bring a world of blessing into our world through our words and actions.

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 רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃ See, I am putting before you today blessing and curse… – Deuteronomy 11:26 The Torah reminds us that each of us has an incredible amount of agency in our world. The words we say and the things we do can either serve us and others as a blessing or a curse. May we have the wisdom to recognize that each of us is a blessing, and we have the power to bring a world of blessing into our world through our words and actions. 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)

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

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

At that time, יהוה set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of יהוה’s Covenant, to stand in attendance upon יהוה, and to bless in God’s name, as is still the case.

(Deuteronomy 10:8)

An entire tribe is set apart to be the educators and teachers of Israel. The holiest amongst all tribes is put in charge of education.

Educating our children, L’dor v’dor (from generation to generation) is still the most profound and sacred task we have.  

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 At that time, יהוה set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of יהוה’s Covenant, to stand in attendance upon יהוה, and to bless in God’s name, as is still the case. (Deuteronomy 10:8) An entire tribe is set apart to be the educators and teachers of Israel. The holiest amongst all tribes is put in charge of education. Educating our children, L’dor v’dor (from generation to generation) is still the most profound and sacred task we have. 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)

Deuteronomy 4:35 “It has been clearly demonstrated to you that יהוה alone is God; there is none else”.

Our ancestors experienced and witnessed great miracles; they saw and heard the words of God. We did not.

We are challenged to have faith without any proof; we do not need miracles to believe in God.

Does that mean we are better than previous generations?

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 Deuteronomy 4:35 “It has been clearly demonstrated to you that יהוה alone is God; there is none else”. Our ancestors experienced and witnessed great miracles; they saw and heard the words of God. We did not. We are challenged to have faith without any proof; we do not need miracles to believe in God. Does that mean we are better than previous generations?

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)

“Moses undertook to expound this Torah/Teaching. He said:” Deuteronomy 1:5

We have not yet finished reading/writing the Torah, we are still wandering in the desert, and already we need commentary on the sacred text/teaching.

For the Torah to stay relevant to us, we need to continue to make it relevant by interpreting the Torah, by making it meaningful to our lives. This unending process begins already in the Torah itself.

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 “Moses undertook to expound this Torah/Teaching. He said:” Deuteronomy 1:5 We have not yet finished reading/writing the Torah, we are still wandering in the desert, and already we need commentary on the sacred text/teaching. For the Torah to stay relevant to us, we need to continue to make it relevant by interpreting the Torah, by making it meaningful to our lives. This unending process begins already in the Torah itself.