We read the curses in this Parasha just before the New Year because we want the end of the year to be the end of the curses. That way, the new year can begin with blessings.
Fair enough, but the reading of this Parasha so close to Rosh Hashana is suggestive in other places too. The Parasha begins with two statements, one a recitation of Jewish history when one brings first fruits to Yerushalayim. ...Read more...
The Baal Koreh last Shabbat afternoon chuckled before starting. As the Kohen came up, the reader opened the Torah and laughed. He realized that this Parasha has a built-in trap that every reader must take care to avoid. This morning’s Parasha begins with the words, “Ki Tetzei l’milchama,” when you go out to war. But so does the chapter before. If one searches out only those first words, one can...Read more...
This is the political scientist’s Parasha. The Seforno identifies this as the Parasha of leadership. We hear about four types of leaders: the judge, the Kohen, the prophet and the king.
The judge’s job is to know the relevant law and to apply it fairly. We’re told we have to support the Kohen so that he can maintain a level of Kedusha, or holiness. The prophet is supposed...Read more...
This morning we learned that six hostages – Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lubnov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Almog Sarusi, 25 – were found murdered in a tunnel in Gaza. They had been alive until just a day before, and were shot at point-blank range by Hamas.
It is raining in Tel Aviv this morning–virtually unheard of for this time of year, the first day...Read more...
