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DEVARIM
25
July 2009
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
Isaiah 1:1-27
1
Timothy 3:1-7
The
Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Av (Tisha B’Av is July 30, 2009) is called
Shabbat Chazon. This refers to the vision from the HafTorah in Isaiah
1:11-15 where the prophet discusses Israel’s betrayal of G-d.
In
Deuteronomy 1 Moshe reproves the sins of the past forty years in the
wilderness. He makes the point that it was only an eleven-day journey.
Because of the disobedience of the spies rejecting G-d's land, the people
rejecting His Torah, and all of the children of Israel rejecting His love
by constantly murmuring and rebelling against His appointed leader, Moshe,
they wandered for forty years to finally receive the blessing of land
ownership in the Promised Land.
DEUTERONOMY, COVENANT OF LOVE
Devarim=Words
The oldest name of this portion is called MISHNAH TORAH, in English
it is called REPETITION OF THE TORAH. This is based on a phrase
from Deuteronomy 17:18: Now, it shall come about when he sits on the
throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a
scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. Deuteronomy is from the
Greek, deuteronomion, meaning: second law. In English, it is
called Deuteronomy.
This book contains Moses’ farewell, discourses and song to Israel where
the people of G-d were at the border, ready to cross the river into the
land. It is here that he gives a repetition of what he has given before
DEUTERONOMY.
He
begins by recounting the events of their journey of the forty years of
wanderings through the desert. He then warns them against the temptations
waiting for them in the Promised Land. There is a promise of judgment for
disobedience and divine blessings for being faithful to G-d and His
commandments. In his farewell song, Moses celebrates by declaring that
G-d is the Rock of Israel. This is followed by his farewell blessings
before he departs to his unknown resting-place.
Devarim is a unique book which gives us the basic information that G-d is
One, the Sh’ma, and that we must be wholly His. G-d is righteous and
faithful, full of love and mercy. G-d is proclaimed, not merely as Judge
and Ruler, but as Friend and Father. This is why we were instructed to
say the V’yahavtah, to love the L-rd our G-d with all our strength
and might. This love and devotion is accompanied by love towards our
fellow man, (Lev 19:18) you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
G-d reveals Himself to us through His instructions, Torah, so that we may
recognize His righteousness, insist on the importance of a devoted family
life, as well as develop religious instruction within the family and
extended to the community as well.
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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