…life, in that long series of public addresses that make up the book of Devarim, culminating in the great covenant-renewal ceremony in today’s parsha. Devarim marks the end of the childhood of the Jewish people. From there on, Judaism became God’s call to human responsibility. For us, faith is not waiting for God. Faith is the realisation that God is…
…FROM THE BOOK OF DEVARIM: DEVARIM: If you seek to change someone, make sure that you are willing to help them when they need your help, defend them when they need your defence, and see the good in them, not just the bad. VA’ETCHANAN: To make love undying, build around it a structure of rituals. EIKEV: Listening is the greatest…
…in Egypt will not be endless. God will honour His promise and bring them back to the Promised Land. We hear it again, magnificently, as Moses tells the people that even after the worst suffering that can befall a nation, Israel will not be lost or rejected (Devarim 30:3–4). But the key text is here at the end of the…
…etc; Mishnah; and Gemara. Now, have a look at that page. Can you see it [see page 16 in the hyperlinked source sheet]? That’s what we say immediately after the blessings of the Torah. Can you see what’s happening in that passage? And precise three stage learning: “Yevarechecha Hashem Veyishmerecha”, the priestly blessings from parshat Naso; then “Eilu devarim she’ein…
…on understanding the souls of men.” What this entire passage represents is the first intrusion of politics into the life of the family of the covenant. From the beginning of Shemot to the end of Devarim, politics will dominate the narrative. But this is our first introduction to it: Yosef’s appointment to a key position in the Egyptian court. And…
…being-left-to-chance. But the basic principle is clear. If you act toward Me with keri, says God, I will turn that same attribute against you, and you will be devastated. It has long been a custom to read the tochachah, the curses, both here and in the parallel passage in Devarim 28, in a low voice in the synagogue, which has…
…things will happen. It is the custom to read the tochachah, the curses section (both here and also in the parallel passage in Devarim 28), in a low voice in the synagogue, which makes them a little less terrifying than if they were said out loud. But they are awful enough however they are read. And both here and in…
…and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go” (Devarim 1:32-33). God was going to show them where to go and where to attack. The people needed something else entirely. Moshe had told them that the land was good. It was “flowing with milk and honey.”…
…family of the victim would get their revenge by killing those responsible), these places of protection were very necessary. As Shoftim puts it: “And he shall flee to one of these cities and live” (Devarim 19:5). This apparently simple concept was given a remarkable interpretation by the Talmud: The Sages taught that if a student was exiled, his teacher was…
…great heroes of Judaism, Akavia hen Mehalalel. He said: histakel bishloshah devarim ve-ein atah ba lidei averah – Reflect on three things, and you will not transgress, go wrong, lose your way. Da meayin bata – know from where you came. Ulean atah holech – and where you are going. Velifnei mi atah atid liten din vecheshbon – and know…