What do the Hebrew Bible and cheesecake have in common? If you guessed the Hebrew month of Sivan, then you’re correct! Sivan (סִיוָן) is the current name of the third month of the Hebrew calendar,...
Cheesecake and the Hebrew Bible
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The Portion of Vezot Haberachah (Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12)
Vezot Haberacha is the final portion of the Torah. In it, Moses blesses each of the tribes, as is customary in the Bible for parents to bless their children before dying. When Moses is done, God instructs him to ascend the mountain where he will survey the land before being “gathered to his fathers”. Finally, the portion — and the Torah — ends with a reckoning of what it was that made Moses so unique.
The Portion of Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52)
The portion of Ha’azinu contains the song mentioned in the previous Torah portion (Vayeilech), which God told Moses to teach the Children of Israel so they would always understand the consequences of their actions. It ends with Moses preparing to die before the people cross into the Promised Land.
The Portion of Vayeilech (Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30)
This incredibly short portion tells of Moses passing the torch onto Joshua. He tells the people that Joshua will lead them into the land of Israel, and offers Joshua words of encouragement. God does likewise. Also in the portion, God tells Moses to record a song which the Children of Israel will learn, so they never forget that any suffering they experience is the result of their own actions.
The Portion of Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20)
This Torah portion is one of the shortest in the Torah, with a mere 40 verses. The verses themselves, however, are longer than those in most other portions.
The Portion of Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8)
This Torah portion contains the extended blessings and curses which the Children of Israel will earn, depending on whether they keep or violate God’s covenant. It also details the ceremony of the first fruits which must be brought to the Temple, as well as the declaration over the second tithe.
The Portion of Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19)
This Torah portion covers an array of commandments for a variety of circumstances, from marriage and relationships to caring for the less fortunate. Some of the commandments pertain to man’s relationship with God, but most of them address the relationship between fellow humans. Like the rest of the book of Deuteronomy, this is part of Moses’s farewell address to the people, and in it he touches on a number of events which happened during their sojourn in the desert, including the war with Amalek.
The Portion of Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9)
Continuing Moses’s farewell address to the Children of Israel, this week’s portion deals extensively with the legal system the people must establish when they enter the land. From courts to kings and priests to false witnesses and murderers, the portion details what God expects the people to do in each case.
The Portion of Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17)
This Torah portion focuses on changes which will take place upon the people’s entry into Israel. First, they are told to wipe out all forms of idolatry which remain from the land’s previous inhabitants. They are then told God will set aside a special place for them to serve Him. Moses tells the people how to deal with deceitful people who will try to lead the nation astray from God. He reminds the people of the laws of kosher animals, and teaches them about certain tithes. He reiterates certain aspects of the Sabbatical year and the pilgrimage holidays.
The Portion of Eikev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25)
This Torah portion carries a promise of Godly assistance in conquering the Land of Israel and blessings for following His commands. Moses warns the people that they will be punished for disregarding God’s word, and reminds them of several incidents in which they had sinned, but mostly focuses on the good that God will bring them if they keep His laws. It also deals heavily with the bounty of the Promised Land.
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What Jews and Christians think
The Israel Bible will succeed in helping readers of Tanakh better understand its geographical context and better perceive some of its contemporary resonances.
Rabbi Dr. Shalom Carmy
Assistant Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Bible, Yeshiva University
When you open The Israel Bible and see… lessons about Israel, you see that Israel is the Torah’s main theme and begin to understand the major role that it plays.
Rabbi Yehudah Glick
Member of The Knesset,
Israel’s Parliament
Jews and Christians share a biblical heritage, and The Israel Bible shows even more clearly that this is the land God chose for the Jewish people.
Pastor Keith Johnson
Founder, Biblical Foundations Academy International
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Full text of the Hebrew Scriptures in English and Hebrew with select transliterated verses
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Unique Israel focused commentary on every chapter
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Proper Hebrew pronunciation of key biblical names and places
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