By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah After hearing the list of the 98 terrifying curses, at the end of last week’s Torah Parsha (KI TAVO), the people were devastated, and questioned whether they could possibly withstand such frightful punishments. Moses responded with the opening statement of Parsha (NITZAVIM): “You are all still standing this day before […]

By Joy Scott, Congregant   Poised to enter the ‘Promised Land’, in Parsha (KI TAVO), Moses describes exactly what will transpire when the Children of Israel reach their destination: “When you come to the land, which the Lord, your God, gives you as an inheritance, you will possess it and settle it” (1). The people […]

By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah Parsha (KI TEITZEI) transpires when the Children of Israel are at the brink of embarking on war with hostile nations, as they journey to the ‘Promised Land’. The Parsha comprises seventy-four of the Torah’s six hundred and thirteen commandments; including marital issues; release of slaves; returning […]

By Joy Scott In previous Parshiot in the Book of DEUTERONOMY, we learned how God began preparing for the establishment of a new nation in the ‘Promised Land’. Equal portions of the land were allotted, according to the population of each of the tribes. Last week’s Torah Parsha (RE’EH) emphasized the importance of ‘tzedakah’ (charity), […]

“See, I am setting before you today the blessing and the curse: the blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your GOD, which I am giving to you today; the curse if you disobey the commandments of the LORD your GOD” (1). These are the first words of Moses’ monologue to the Children […]

By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In this week’s Parsha (EKEV), Moses continues his closing address to the Children of Israel, which he began in Parsha (DEVARIM), and expanded in last week’s Parsha (V’ETCHANAN). Moses clearly understands the risks for this new generation. They may not remember the miracles, which God had performed, to sustain […]

In last week’s Torah Parsha (DEVARIM), we read the words of Moses as he explained to the Children of Israel, how both he and their forefathers had committed sins against God, with the consequence that all were to be destined to be banned from entering the ‘Promised Land’. This week’s Torah Parsha (V’ETCHANAN) begins with […]

This week’s Torah Parsha (DEVARIM) is the first in the last Book of the Torah, DEUTERONOMY. The entire book denotes a major shift from each of the four earlier Books. We read how Moses acted as the liaison between God’s Word and the Israelites; their leader and teacher for over forty years; and, the man […]

By Joy Scott, Congregant A ‘prophet for hire’, a talking donkey, and flying angels: This is not a child’s fairy tale; but, rather the essence of this week’s Torah Parsha (BALAK). The Parsha begins with the Israelites continuing their journey to Canaan. They have already defeated their enemies in the land of the Amorites, and […]

By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In an almost imperceptible yet seismic shift, this week’s Torah Parsha (CHUKAT) jumps several decades ahead in the wilderness journey of the Israelites; and its narrative reads like a riddle inside a riddle. The Torah Parsha begins: “This is the statute of the Torah which the Lord commanded…(1), and […]