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Va’etchanan “And I besought”
1 Aug. 2009
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
Isaiah 40:1-26
Mark 12:28-34
This coming Shabbat is named, “Shabbat Nachamu,” the Sabbath of Comfort.
Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, says your L-rd.
The Torah portion includes the repetition of the Ten Commandments and
various statutes, the recitation of the Shema (Hear O Israel), the
commandments of Tefillin (Phylacteries) and the placement of the Mezuzah
on the doorways of our homes.
Deuteronomy 6:8 states “You shall bind them as sign on your hand and they
shall be as frontals on your forehead.” The T'fillin are a fulfillment of
the commandment to bind G-d's word as a sign upon your hand, set them as a
symbol between your eyes. They contain four passages from the Torah which
teach: the unity and uniqueness of G-d, recalling the miracle of the
Exodus from Egypt, declaring G-d's dominion over all that is in the
heavens and on earth, and affirming our duty to serve G-d with all our
being.
One is placed on the arm pointing towards the heart, that we may recall
G-d's outstretched arm and be reminded to direct our impulses and desires
to His service. We place the other box on the head to remind us of our
duty to devote all the power of our mind to the service of G-d. Finally
we wrap the strap around our middle finger and our hand to form the Hebrew
letter shin, representing El Shaddai, the Most High G-d. As we wrap we
say this prayer, just as the sages of old:
I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you with righteousness,
justice, with love, and with compassion. I will betroth you to me with
faithfulness, and I shall love the L-rd, thus says the L-rd. (Taken from
Hosea 2:19-20).
What a remarkable symbol of G-d's marriage covenant between us and Him.
This is done each and every day by our people to be reminded that we are
to think of ourselves as a bride adorned for her husband. Our minds
should stay upon him, our bridegroom, and not upon any temptation of the
world. This symbolic act, each morning, reminds me of what G-d has done
for our people, for us, and for me by fulfilling His vows and bringing us
our redeemer Messiah Yeshua.
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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