Timeless Torah

At first glance the text seems plain enough. “These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel ...between...Chatzeros and Di Zahav.” But beneath the surface, a courtroom drama unfolds. Simply interpreted, “Di Zahav” is nothing more than the name of a place, but a name with no location is hardly helpful.  read more »

“Eileh hadvorim…” means so much more than simply, “These are the words.” They are the immortal words of Israel’s most humble leader. They are the final rebuke of an individual who had lived, suffered, and now was about to die because of the events that he would presently refer to. They are the words of Moses who begins his last speech by reminding his fellow Jews of the many national shortcomings and sins that had occurred since their Exodus from Egypt.  read more »

Does man shape the environment or does the environment shape man? Traditional psychologists depict the individual as a catspaw of circumstance while sociologists relegate him to the serfdom of his surroundings. He is deemed far less the sovereign of society than he is its subject. Inferentially, individual responsibility is thus obviated if human existence is analogous to a driven leaf impelled by the winds of fortune.  read more »

Moses began his illustrious career with great reluctance and apprehension. Without a doubt, one of Moses’ concerns was his inability to captivate an audience with the glibness of his tongue. As he explains to G-d, “I am not a man of words.” Nonetheless, the reticent leader who stuttered became quite the orator. Indeed, after forty years pontificating from the pulpit, Moses delivered a speech that lasted thirty-seven days. Amongst the many points contained in Moses’ last words is the blessing he bestows upon his fellow Jews. “May God, the Lord of your fathers, add a thousand fold more like you and bless you, as He spoke to you.” The people, Rashi informs us, were not very happy with the blessing. “Only that and no more?” the nation queried. “Is that the full extent of your blessing? Hashem already blessed us to be ‘like the dust of the earth that is too numerous to count.’” The nonplussed Moses replied, “You will surely receive the blessing Hashem gave you. This is just my own personal blessing added.”  read more »

Though blood is thicker than water, family feuds occur in the best of families. Case in point is Jacob’s brother Eisav who just happens to be the grandfather of Amalek and ancestor of Edom (Roman Empire). As history records, unfortunately in blood and tears, there is no love lost between our two nations. Nonetheless, in this week’s Biblical reading, we are reminded not to wage war against Edom, indeed not even to trespass on his land. Similar restrictions apply to other members of the mishpocha - even distant cousins - against whom we are also forbidden to engage in battle. However the two case studies mentioned by Moses are in fact singular. In regard to the first family Moses proclaims, “You may not provoke war with Moav, for to the children of Lot I have given Ar as an inheritance.” These Moavites were the descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Their forebear, Moav, was fathered through an incestuous union of Lot and his daughter - who named him, unabashedly, Mai Av, From my Father.  read more »