Shoftim

The eternal validity of God’s covenant

Nature's Testimony

These last chapters of the Torah, culminating in this week's reading, are all very serious and have an almost fearsome quality and tone. Heaven and earth are called upon to be the ultimate witnesses regarding the covenant that the Lord has made with Israel for all time.

Near the End

Our teacher Moshe is described in the Parsha as being near the end of his life in this world. Yet, the Torah also describes that he was able to climb mountains, and gather the Jewish people at his feet.

Jewish Covenants

Covenants, in the Jewish sense of the word, are not altered by changing times and differing circumstances. A covenant has the ring of eternity, not only in time but also in content.

You Will Conquer

The opening words of this week's Torah reading have been repeated often throughout the entire discourse by Moshe with the Jewish people, which constitutes the bulk of this book of Devarim.

We Are Our Own Worst Enemy

The Torah speaks of making war upon one's enemy. Who is this enemy? There is a rabbinic tradition that The enemy described is not so much a physical or national enemy as it is a spiritual or societal foe.

Standards of Justice

This week's Torah reading envisions for us an efficient, organized system of law and order, justice, and fairness. The Torah set a very high bar regarding the selection of judges and police. They are to be free of prejudice, bias and personally held agendas and social ideals.

Choices

The Torah presents us with the most basic choice that we can make – the stark choice between eternal life and death itself. Surprisingly e are witness to the fact that many times human beings make choices that are anti-life.

Formula for Jewish Life

In this week's portion, the Torah indicates that there is a simple formula for Jewish life. If we follow the commandments of God and observe the laws of the Torah, the Jewish people will be showered with blessings.

Heaven's Refusal

Although our teacher Moshe figuratively tears down the gates of heaven with his prayers and supplication to be allowed to enter the land of Israel, his wish is not granted. The question itself remains a vexing one, even thousands of years later.

Recalling Past Events

There is no need to reconcile the two apparent differing descriptions of the same Torah event. We know that human beings can never really be truly objective. As such, we can never claim objectivity in recalling past events and describing them for later generations.

V'zot Habracha

Haazinu

Nitzavim-Vayelech

Ki Tavo

Ki Tetzei

Shoftim

Re'eh

Ekev