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Monthly Archives: July 2018
Thoughts on Vaetchanan
This week’s portion is Vaetchanan, Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11.[i] More than Vaetchanan however, this Shabbat is known as Shabbat Nachamu or Shabbat of Comforting. This is the first Shabbat after Tisha b’Av and the remembrance of the destruction of both … Continue reading
Thoughts on D’varim
This Shabbat we begin reading the final book of the Torah, D’varim (Deuteronomy) 1:1 – 3:22.[i] While some consider the book of Deuteronomy to be simply a recapitulation of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, the Keil and Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary … Continue reading
Thoughts on Matot-Massei
The last reading from the book of Numbers is the double portion, Matot-Massei, Numbers 30:2-36:13.[i] The haftarah, Jeremiah 2:4-28 and 4:1-2, is the second of a series of three “haftarot of affliction” leading to Tisha b’Av, the annual commemoration of … Continue reading
Thoughts on Pinchas
This week’s parasha, Pinchas, Numbers 25:10-30:1,[i] continues the narrative begun last week with Balaam. Only in this week’s parasha, Israel falls prey to Balaam’s suggestions on how to cause HaShem to curse Israel even though he (Balaam) had not been … Continue reading
