D’vrei Torah

Haazinu, Deuteronomy chapter 32, serves a sort of bridge portion between the conclusion of the High Holidays and the beginning of Sukkot. The portion is the poetic [Read more...]

Moses now comes to his final farewell as Vayeilech begins in Deuteronomy 31. He recounts that he is failing and soon will die. We see the transfer of authority Joshua (31:7) [Read more...]

This past week, the day before school began for my grandchildren, we had the pleasure of having them for a day. Off we went to the Franklin Institute and during the course of [Read more...]

Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1 through 29:8) continues in most respects, the theme of blessing and curse that is such a major part of the book’s substance. The portion [Read more...]

Wow, what a jammed packed Torah portion we have this week. Ki Tetze (Deuteronomy [21:10]ff) is filled with issues that speak to personal behavior, the creation of a just [Read more...]

This week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, (Deuteronomy [16:18]ff) covers many familiar themes. The call not to follow idolatry, rules of engagement when entering Canaan, [Read more...]

This week’s portion, “Re’eh” (DT: 11ff) is packed with issues and challenges. SOme of the issues covered are the on-going theme of choice (11), laws [Read more...]

This week’s portion, “Ekev” continues the lengthy summary by Moses of the Israelites Wilderness experience. Beginning in Deuteronomy [7:12] with a powerful [Read more...]

The second portion of Deuteronomy brings us the Sh’ma and the V’ahavta as well as a third recitation of the 10 Commandments. It is a powerful portion. Yet, a look [Read more...]

So we begin, this Shabbat, with the final book of Torah, Deuteronomy. This summary of the Wilderness experience is told within the context of three farewell [Read more...]