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Vayeilech – וַיֵּלֶךְ (Deuteronomy 31:1–30)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayeilech – וַיֵּלֶךְ (Deuteronomy 31:1–30)

Deuteronomy 31:11-12 “You shall read this Torah/Teaching aloud in the presence of all Israel.”

Gather the people—men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities—that they may hear and so learn to revere your God יהוה and to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching / Torah.

The Torah of God is not secretive. This is an amazing moment, a democratization of the knowledge of God, of the sacred. The Torah belongs to us all.

Parsha Vayeilech – וַיֵּלֶךְ Torah Summary:

Moses prepares the people for his death and announces that Joshua will succeed him. (31:1–8) Moses instructs the priests and the elders regarding the importance of reading the Torah. (31:9–13) God informs Moses that upon his death, the people will commit idolatry and “many evils and troubles shall befall them.” God tells Moses to teach the people a poem that will “be My witness.” (31:14–30) Vayeilech – וַיֵּלֶךְ Deuteronomy 31:11-12 “You shall read this Torah/Teaching aloud in the presence of all Israel. Gather the people—men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities—that they may hear and so learn to revere your God יהוה and to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching / Torah. The Torah of God is not secretive. This is an amazing moment, a democratization of the knowledge of God, of the sacred. The Torah belongs to us all.

Nitzavim – נִצָּבִים (Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20)

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

“You stand this day, all of you, before your God יהוה —your tribal heads, your elders, and your officials, every household in Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to water drawer” (Deuteronomy 29:9-10)

This section is so important, we read it not only when it is the Torah portion, but also on Yom Kippur.

It is the most profound statement of inclusion and equality before God.

It stresses how diverse we are as a people standing before God, everyone included equally.

Parsha Nitzavim – נִצָּבִים Torah 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) Nitzavim – נִצָּבִים “You stand this day, all of you, before your God יהוה —your tribal heads, your elders, and your officials, every household in Israel, your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to water drawer” (Deuteronomy 29:9-10) This section is so important, we read it not only when it is the Torah portion, but also on Yom Kippur. It is the most profound statement of inclusion and equality before God. It stresses how diverse we are as a people standing before God, everyone included equally.

Ki Tavo – כִּי-תָבוֹא (Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8)

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

יְקִֽימְךָ֨ יְהֹוָ֥ה לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם קָד֔וֹשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־לָ֑ךְ כִּ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָלַכְתָּ֖ בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃

Adonai will establish you as God’s holy people, as was promised to you, if you guard the mitzvot of Adonai your God and walk in God’s ways. – Deuteronomy 28:9

The Torah teaches us that God will establish us as a holy people, not that God has established us as a holy people. This teaches us that holiness isn’t some far-off destination and isn’t static: it’s an ongoing, sacred process of becoming. May we have the presence and the wisdom to find the holiness woven throughout our journey of life.

Parsha Ki Tavo – כִּי-תָבוֹא Torah 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 they 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 Tavo – כִּי-תָבוֹא יְקִֽימְךָ֨ יְהֹוָ֥ה לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם קָד֔וֹשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־לָ֑ךְ כִּ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וְהָלַכְתָּ֖ בִּדְרָכָֽיו׃ Adonai will establish you as God’s holy people, as was promised to you, if you guard the mitzvot of Adonai your God and walk in God’s ways. – Deuteronomy 28:9 The Torah teaches us that God will establish us as a holy people, not that God has established us as a holy people. This teaches us that holiness isn’t some far-off destination and isn’t static: it’s an ongoing, sacred process of becoming. May we have the presence and the wisdom to find the holiness woven throughout our journey of life.

Ki Teitzei – כִּי-תֵצֵא (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19)

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

לֹֽא־תִרְאֶה֩ אֶת־שׁ֨וֹר אָחִ֜יךָ א֤וֹ אֶת־שֵׂיוֹ֙ נִדָּחִ֔ים וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ מֵהֶ֑ם הָשֵׁ֥ב תְּשִׁיבֵ֖ם לְאָחִֽיךָ׃

 You shall not see the ox or the sheep of your neighbor slip away and ignore them; you are required to return it to them. – Deuteronomy 22:1

The Torah commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and here we are reminded that the commandment even includes the animals of our neighbors. If we can love our neighbor’s animals, all the more so we should strive to love our neighbor!

Parsha Ki Teitzei – כִּי-תֵצֵא 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) Ki Teitzei – כִּי-תֵצֵא לֹֽא־תִרְאֶה֩ אֶת־שׁ֨וֹר אָחִ֜יךָ א֤וֹ אֶת־שֵׂיוֹ֙ נִדָּחִ֔ים וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ מֵהֶ֑ם הָשֵׁ֥ב תְּשִׁיבֵ֖ם לְאָחִֽיךָ׃ You shall not see the ox or the sheep of your neighbor slip away and ignore them; you are required to return it to them. – Deuteronomy 22:1 The Torah commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and here we are reminded that the commandment even includes the animals of our neighbors. If we can love our neighbor’s animals, all the more so we should strive to love our neighbor! 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) Ki Teitzei – כִּי-תֵצֵא