by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 21, 2015 | Va'etchanan
When the Israelites enter the land, Moses continues, they will find nations who have been living there for many years. Moses instructs the people to drive those nations out of the land without mercy, not to make treaties with them and not to intermarry with them, lest...
by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 21, 2015 | Va'etchanan
Next, Moses reminds the people of the events that took place at Mount Sinai. He begins by telling the people it was an event which happened, not to their forefathers, but to they themselves. Although in reality the generation standing before him was not that which...
by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 21, 2015 | Va'etchanan
This portion contains one of the most significant passages in all the Torah: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord in One.” (6:4) This declaration of faith, known as the Shema, has served as the deathbed statement of many a persecuted Jew throughout the...
by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 21, 2015 | Va'etchanan
The portion opens with Moses recounting how he beseeched God to allow him to enter the land of Israel, but was denied. The Israel Bible points out that Moses was motivated not by arrogance or a desire to continue leading the people, but rather by a desire to step into...
