Month: August 2013

Two miracles occur in this first reading. First, Moshe speaks to “All Israel.” Before high powered speakers and mics, this wasn’t physically possible. Second, according to the Pshat he’s speaking in 9 seven places at once; many of which don’t seem to exist. Read literally the list is like: across the Jordan (downtrodden), in the… Continue reading Devarim

It says, in Hashem addressing Moshe’s complaint, “Rav Lach” There are various interpretations of this phrase which literally means “there’s much to you (feminine).” When Beckham was traded from Manchester United, people were shocked. One of the reasons Man U gave for the trade is they wanted fans attached to the team, not a single… Continue reading V’etchanan

We start this week with a very new concept. The 40 years in the desert aren’t presented as a punishment, but as a test so that Hashem will knows what is in the heart. It raises three obvious questions. First, how does Hashem not know what is in the heart? And second, what test involves… Continue reading Eikev

This reading states: “You shall not do like everything that we are doing here today, a man all the straight things in his eyes.” To boil it down, you shouldn’t do everything you see as upright in your own eyes. Instead, you yield to a greater authority. Why? In the Book of Devarim we went… Continue reading Re’eh

The Kohen is used to settle matters of Law (mishpat) – between blood & blood, judgment & judgment (Deen) and lesion & lesion? The first two describe major areas of law as we’d categorize them today: criminal and civil law. The third describes the third category of law – moral. In Jewish Law, in all… Continue reading Shoftim

Let’s look at the stages of ‘courtship’ in the case of the captive woman. In the first stage, the soldier chashaks her. It does mean desire. But its other meanings imply ‘holding close’ or ‘attaching to’. It expresses a desire to hug and comfort. But because the woman is beautiful, we don’t know if that… Continue reading Ki-Tzetzei

Again and again this offering emphasizes “the fruit of the ground.” Why? In addition, we bring the fruit of the ground because Hashem brought us to a land of Milk and Honey – neither of which is a fruit of anything. Why? If we look at prior references to the “trees” (as opposed to the… Continue reading Ki Tavo

I tap my fingers on the board and ask the crowd what I should do. The responses are loud and eager. Okale is a particularly social game. But I’m not really looking for their advice. I’m waiting to see Jouda’s reaction. And then it comes – an almost unreadable rightward nod of his head. I… Continue reading Chapter One