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DEVARIM "Words"
17 July 2010
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
Isaiah 1:1-27
1 Timothy 3:1-7
The Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Av 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. 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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