Voices of WRJ
By Abigail Fisher, 10/11/2019
This week we turn to Ha’azinu, the second to last parashat in the book of Deuteronomy. For the entirety of the book of Deuteronomy, Moses has been reviewing the Israelites’ wandering—the exam review if you will. Now as his death approaches, he teaches them this poem so that they will remember what is important. Logically, it makes sense that it would be a poem or a song; it is much easier to remember things when learned that way. I can clearly remember the jingles of my youth, but I probably can’t tell you what I ate yesterday. What strikes me as odd about this poem, however,... Read More
By Susan Bass, 10/04/2019
The period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offers us the opportunity to confront the annual questions of how this New Year will be different from the one just ended. Let’s take a moment to think about a few easy ways to incorporate Torah values into our daily life. Vayeilech, the shortest parashah, finishes the arc of Moses retelling the Torah to the children of Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This parashah contains the final positive mitzvah, commandment of the Torah, that every individual is obligated to write a scroll for himself [Deut 31:19]. According... Read More
By Nicole Villalpando, 9/27/2019
Nitzavim begins with these words: “You stand this day, all of you, before your God -- you tribal heads, you elders, and you officials, all the men of Israel, you children, you women, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to water drawer -- to enter into the covenant of your God, which your God is concluding with you this day …” (Deuteronomy 29:9-11) Much has been written about the fact that women are included in this ceremony. Hooray! We were there. We weren’t left tending the fires to make the dinner for the men’s big celebration. We were there. Look, though, at the... Read More
By Rozan Anderson, 9/20/2019
This week’s parashat, Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8), lays out Moses’s final instructions to the people as they are about to enter the Promised Land, after forty years of wandering in the desert. Though many of these rules have already been delivered, this is his last opportunity to emphasize the importance of establishing a just, long-lasting society once they are settled, as well as ensuring their covenantal relationship with God. Bring the first fruits of the soil to the altar and express your gratitude to God for your bountiful harvest and freedom from slavery, saving ten percent... Read More
By Judy Silver Weisberg, 9/13/2019
Our introduction to civil society begins in our toddler days. “Don’t fight with your siblings,” our parents implored us or there would be consequences. We were taught to share our toys and not to talk to strangers. Every institution has a set of ethical rules to guide our conduct to guarantee fairness and safety-both physical and moral. Ki Teitzi, translated as “when you go out,” is the ultimate playbook for ethical living. Citing 74 of the Torah’s 613 commandments, the parashah goes into great detail on how we should conduct our personal and professional lives and even... Read More
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