Torah

The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is Ha’atzinu and is found in Deuteronomy 32:1-52. In this portion, Moses recites the poem God had instructed him to write down and teach to the people. This passage is often referred to as the Song of Moses, which is his last message to the people before he dies and Joshua leads them into the Promised Land.  Moses reviews the ups and downs of the wilderness journey as the people work out their relationship with God and their relationship to others and learn to function more closely as a community. Moses ends with the words that God is merciful, gracious, and eternally loves His people, and that God will protect them as they enter the Promised Land.

As we finish the old year and start a new one, it is also a time of reflection. We see the ups and downs of this past year, and areas we have struggled in our relationship with God and with others.  We see unfinished business and things we would like to change. Although the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur allows us time to address certain aspects of our life, the process can sometimes make us feel inadequate to address everything that comes to mind. What is most important for us to remember is that God is merciful, gracious, eternally loves us, and will be with us through the challenges of the coming year. We can approach the new year with confidence and trust God for the days ahead. 

The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is Nitzavim-Vayelech and is found in Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30. It is the passage traditionally read before the High Holy Days and prompts us to reflect on our actions and choices.  In this parasha, we hear Moses’ last message to the people. Moses reminds the people that they are entering into a covenant with God and that those who violate that covenant will be disciplined. Moses also tells the people that even though God may punish their disobedience He will not abandon them. When they return to God in repentance, God will welcome them lovingly and restore His blessings to them. Moses encourages the people, telling them that God’s mitzvot are not too difficult or beyond reach. Rather, they are very close, so that every individual has the ability to observe them.

This passage has two main themes–one is about choices we face every day about living our commitment to bless God and others.  The other is about repentance–the process of recognizing where we have made bad choices and have fallen short of how we ought to live, and we return back to making right choices. Repentance involves both thought and action.  We see in the passage that God always has an open door policy on forgiveness and that he will never abandon us, regardless of our choices.  We also see that God has put within each of us–in our mouths and heart-the mitzvot He wants us to observe so that we don’t have to worry about knowing what God wants us to do or not having the strength to do them. As we approach the High Holy Days, may we use the time to reflect on the choices we have made this year, and what areas of our lives we would like to make better choices in.  Let us also remember to be as forgiving of others and their choices as we expect God to be forgiving of us.

The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is Ki Tavo and is found in Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8.  In this parasha the people are reminded that, once they are settled in the land, each Israelite farmer is to bring a portion of his first fruits to the central sanctuary. Standing before the priest, he recites the declaration expressing gratitude for all the gifts God has given. In the third year of the agricultural cycle, farmers are to give the second tithe of their produce to the poor rather than bringing it to Jerusalem. Once this is done, the farmer is to recite a declaration acknowledging that he had done as God commanded.  Moses reminds the Israelites that they have affirmed their covenant with God, that they have promised to obey Him, and that in return God has affirmed that Israel is His treasured people. Moses concludes by reminding the Israelites of all that God has done for them in the 40 years since He redeemed them from Egypt.

One primary theme stands out in this parasha–the importance thanking God for what we have in life. In particular, the focus is on the harvest, and dedicating the first fruits of that harvest to God.  Not all of us are farmers; however, as we approach the end of this current year and enter a new year. It is a time of reflection.  How has this year gone? Perhaps it has been an especially good year and we have been blessed with health, happiness, and fulfillment.  Perhaps it has been one of difficult times and we have been blessed instead with strength and fortitude to handle the tough times. In either way, we have been blessed.  Is it really important to remember our blessings, and to focus on the positive in our lives?  In this passage, we are actually commanded to rejoice in every good thing.  It is a mitzvah to rejoice and be happy.  God does not need our blessings as much as God needs us to remember them.  Let us be mindful of our blessings in the next couple of weeks as we prepare for the High Holy Days.

The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is Shoftim and is found in Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9. In this parasha, Moses reminds the people of God’s admonition to appoint judges and officers in the all their communities to insure the administration of justice. “Justice, Justice, shall you pursue that you may thrive and occupy the land the Lord, your God, is giving you (Duet.16:20).  The people are again reminded not to copy pagan forms of worship or use pagan shrines even if they dedicate it to God.  If and when Israel establishes a monarchy, the king must make a copy of the Torah and keep it with him at all times, for the king also is subject to God’s laws.  The king is not allowed to send people back to Egypt to bring back items to add to the king’s wealth (i.e. horses) because “you must not go back that way again”.  Since the priests and Levites have no territory of their own they must be supported by the agricultural dues paid by the members of the other tribes.  Sorcery in all its forms is forbidden. True prophets are to be obeyed but false prophets must be put to death.  After the Israelites have conquered the land and settled in it, they are to designate three cities of refuge to which a person who commits accidental manslaughter may flee and be safe from the relatives of the person he killed.

There are two main points I would like to bring out in this passage. First, God puts a lot of weight on the importance of justice. It also appears to be difficult to achieve because it takes a commitment to continue to pursue it, regardless of what happens around us.  Second, going back to Egypt (traditionally looked at as any form of narrowness or constriction) is not an option. There are times when we need to close the door to past experiences and people which are not healthy and move into the future, accepting new paths, new identities, and new ways of doing things that are healthy.

The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is Re’eh and is found in Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17. In this parasha, Moses reiterates the parameters of the covenantal relationship God sets before the people. In particular, the people are admonished to abolish idols and not sacrifice at Canaanite shrines, but worship only God. Moses also reminds the people of the importance of taking care of those who are in need, including those whose are fatherless or widowed, owed debts, are enslaved, or poor. Finally, the parasha ends with the importance of participating in the Pilgrimage Festivals: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot.

In the passage we find a simple summary of what it means to be a Jew.  We worship God alone and do not “worship at the shrines of other gods”, that is, we do not follow other religions.  We are committed to Tikkun Olam– “repairing the world” and actively take care of those in need, pursuing social action and justice. Finally, we keep holidays and customs that remind us of our history, our relationship with God, and our relationship with others.

Our historical beginnings are captured in the three festivals mentioned in this parasha.  When we remember we were slaves, it keeps alive the compassion to reach out to those who have less than we do. When we remember how difficult it was to live in the uncertainty of the wilderness, we are inspired to reach out to others who are facing uncertain times.  When we remember that God personally gave us the Ten Commandments we remember our partnership with God in making the world a better place. Our worship to God is not complete with only sacrifices or prayers.  Our worship becomes complete when our prayers are turned into action to help others around us. And that interconnectedness between God, others, and the world God created is what being a Jew is all about.

The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is Vaetchanan and is found in Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11. In this parasha, Moses continues his speech to the people, giving them the first of several exhortations in the passage about the importance of obeying God’s commandments, with particular emphasis on the prohibition of idolatry. Moses again exhorts the people to study and observe all of God’s laws and rules. He reminds them of the revelation at Sinai and reviews the Ten Statements (i.e., 10 commandments). He recalls their reaction to hearing God’s voice and encourages them to retain that feeling of reverence so that they may thrive in the land. Moses teaches the first paragraph of the Shema. He tells the people yet again that they must keep God’s commandments and shun idolatry. They are to teach their children about the covenant – that God brought Israel out of Egypt and into the land so that they might worship God and keep His commandments.

This parasha is rich with important passages about our covenantal relationship with God, where God promises to love us and we are commanded to love God with all of our heart, soul, and resources, and to love and respect others.  Love is a powerful concept.  It is an abstract item that cannot be touched, seen, or heard, yet we can feel its presence and give love in ways that translate to positive concrete expressions we do feel, see, hear, and understand.  Perhaps that is why love is such an important aspect of our covenantal relationship with God.  It represents an abstract God that cannot be touched, seen, or heard but can be experienced.  Idols are the opposite–tangible items that can be seen and touched, but have no ability to love or to be expressions of love.  This week, may we focus on the intangible things which are truly meaningful in our lives and may we meaningfully touch the lives of others in positive and concrete ways.

The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is Devarim and is found in Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22. In this parasha we begin the book of Deuteronomy, or Devarim, which, in Hebrew which means “words”.  In Numbers or Bamidbar (“in the wilderness”), we end with the people getting ready to enter the land of Israel.  They pause at the border where Moses will not be crossing over with the people; therefore, he gives his last sermon to the people, invoking them to be faithful to God. The entire book of Deuteronomy is that sermon. It is essentially a retelling of the history of the wilderness years, a review and elaboration of the statutes and ordinances of the Torah, Moses’ final blessing, and his death. This parasha’s subject is history. Moses begins by describing how he appointed judges and officers to help him lead the people, and then he reminds the Israelites about what happened the first time they were about to enter the land. After the spies’ report caused the people to panic and refuse to continue, God decreed that the generation of the Exodus would die in the wilderness. God also decreed that Moses would not enter the land, either. 

In retelling this history and sharing his reflections, Moses attempts to prepare the people for uncertainty ahead, for changes in leadership (i.e., Joshua), and for their continued existence as a people who are ready to settle down in a land, rather than simply pass through.  What Moses is hoping the people will understand is that, although the journey in the wilderness is ending, they are really simply entering a new journey, one that will be just as difficult and will try their patience. The lessons they have learned in the journey through the wilderness have prepared them for the experiences and lessons they will encounter in their journey in settling the land.  They only need to remember.  This week, as we go forward to the tasks and duties that await us, let us remember that we have nothing to fear for the future, except as we forget how God has led us in the past.