August 1, 2010

Torah Online

September 2010

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Nitzavim/Vayelech– Shabbat, September 4, 2010/ 25 Elul 5770

In the first of this double portion read this week, Moses announces to the entire community that each of them together has entered into the covenant with God. That covenant embraces not only those present but also all the generations to come. Moses reminds them of the terrible fate that awaits those who drift into idolatry. However, should the people repent of such acts, God will forgive them and end their exile. Moses tells them that the God’s words and God’s ways are not too difficult or too far off; it is within their reach and their hearts to follow. He tells them that placed before them is a choice between life and death; they should choose life, by loving God and living by God’s commandments.

Parashat Vayelech continues with Moses reminding the people he is 120 years old and no longer able to lead them. He reminds them that Joshua will take over as their leader, taking them into the Promised Land. Moses tells them all to be strong and of good courage, to have faith in God, to read the Law (Torah) regularly in front of the entire community. God knows that the people will stray and forget; God instructs Moses to compose a song-poem that the people can sing to remind them of all that God did for them, so that they can always repent and return to God. Moses tells the priests to place the Law in the Ark, and has the elders assemble before him, so he can teach them his song.



Ha’azinu- Shabbat, September 11, 2010/ 3 Tishrei 5770

Moses sings a song praising God’s justice and faithfulness. He recounts how God nurtured and lifted up the Israelite people, and how over time, they will forget and reject God. Even so, God will not destroy them. Moses urges the people to teach his words to their children so that they might know and fulfill, remember God’s commandments. God tells Moses to climb Mount Nebo, the place from which he can gaze upon the Promised Land and the place where he will die.



Yom Kippur- Shabbat, September 18, 2010/ 10 Tishrei 5770

We re-read Parashat Nitzavim, from just 2 weeks ago, because of its significant thematic connections to the day of Yom Kippur, our Day of Atonement. As we spend this day in spiritual reflection, taking an account of our deeds and asking forgiveness for our sins, we are reminded in reading this that the whole community is part of the covenant—elders, women, children, strangers; this generation and the generations to come. As we imagine ourselves, standing with all the generations past, in the time of Moses receiving and hearing God’s words, we become better-prepared to do our own t’shuvah – our work of repentance and forgiveness. In doing so, we then follow God’s command in this portion to choose life.



Shabbat Sukkot- Shabbat, September 25, 2010/ 17 Tishrei 5770

On this Shabbat, because it is during Sukkot, we re-read a previous section of Torah, from Leviticus 23, which reviews the sacred times and holidays of our people. It includes the Biblical description of the Festival of Sukkot. There are two laws marking the festival—a seven-day observance and a concluding celebration on the eighth day. The first and seventh days of Sukkot are sacred assemblies on which no manner of work is to be done. Offerings by fire are ordained for each of the seven days. There is also the description of greenery (the lulav-willow, palm and myrtle – and the etrog-a citron fruit) to be used in the celebration; the Israelites are to dwell in temporary booths outdoors as a remembrance of the exodus rout from Egypt when our people dwelt in these structures. In that way, after all of our internal spiritual work for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we can truly celebrate a reminder of the bounty of harvest and of our freedom.