Deuteronomy / Devarim

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Ha’azinu / Shabbat Shuva

September 30, 2011 in 5772, Deuteronomy / Devarim by Ed | No comments


The New Year begins
A special Shabbat – Shuva
It’s time to return


This week’s haftarah
Starts with words from Hosea*
“Shuva, Yisrael”


* The prophetic reading for Shabbat Shuva begins with Hosea 14:2 “Return, O Israel, to Adonai your G-d, for you have fallen because of your sin.”

 

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Ki Tavo

September 16, 2011 in 5771, Deuteronomy / Devarim by Ed | No comments


Ebal, Gerizim
From one the curses are read
The other, blessings


A question for us:
On which Mount are we standing
When we view our lives?


[Inspired by this week's Ten Minutes of Torah essays by Rabbi Melanie Aron and Rabbi Jennifer Clayman]

 

Ki Teitzei

September 9, 2011 in 5771, Deuteronomy / Devarim by Ed | No comments


When you harvest grain
Or the fruit of trees and vines
Leave the last behind


So that the widows
The orphans and foreigners
Can have what remains


This is commanded
To make sure we remember
That once we were slaves


[Based on Deuteronomy 24:20-22]


Shoftim

September 2, 2011 in 5771, Deuteronomy / Devarim by Ed | No comments


Tzedek is justice
But is also righteousness
So it’s written twice


Pursuing justice
Must be done through righteousness
Or it’s not justice


Deuteronomy 16:20
Tzedek, tzedek tirdof
Justice, justice, shall you pursue

R’eih

August 25, 2011 in 5771, Deuteronomy / Devarim, Prayer, Temple by Ed | No comments


For burnt offerings
There will be one location
G-d’s place – HaMakom*

 

Today it is prayer**
A sacrifice of the heart
We offer to G-d

 

Any place is fine
In the synagogue, at home
Even on a plane

 

But still, Jews gather
As our ancestors once did
In Jerusalem


*Deut 12:11

**[Felicia R. (or other syllabic obsessives) - Click Here]

 

Eikev

August 19, 2011 in 5771, Deuteronomy / Devarim by Ed | No comments


What does G-d demand?
Walk only in divine paths
Revere Adonai


Love the Eternal
With all your heart, all your soul
This is all G-d asks


[Deuteronomy 10:12]

Va-et’chanan

August 11, 2011 in 5771, Deuteronomy / Devarim, Shema by Ed | No comments


This week in Torah
Deuteronomy 6:4
THE Jewish Haiku!

 

Sh’ma Yisrael
Adonai Eloheinu
Adonai Echad

 

Hear O Israel
The Eternal Is Our G-d
Adonai Is One


Devarim

August 5, 2011 in 5771, Deuteronomy / Devarim, Moses, Spies by Ed | No comments


Fifth book of Moses
Really, just his final speech
A journey retold


Almost right away
He recalls the spy story
A failure of faith


Is it about guilt
Or a leader’s reminder:
G-d will protect them


Ha’azinu

September 13, 2010 in 5771, Deuteronomy / Devarim, Moses by Ed | No comments

Moses' final song as written in the Torah scroll (click image to enlarge)

Final speech, a song
Moses reminds the people
Of all G-d has done

See the enlarged “Hey”?
To read one explanation
Just click on this link

Nitzavim / Vayeilech

September 3, 2010 in 5770, Deuteronomy / Devarim by Ed | No comments

Ev’ryone is there
Standing before Adonai
Covenant is made

But it’s not just them
Future generations, too
Will be bound to G-d

Word art based on Deuteronomy chapter 29 created at wordle.net

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