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?