Sat, 31 August 2013
כ״ה בְּאֱלוּל תשע״ג
Sat. 25th of Elul, 5773
that you should say: ‘Who shall go up for us
to heaven, and bring it
to us . . . ?’” (Deuteronomy 30:11–12.)
The commandments to destroy the seven Canaanite
nations are perhaps best understood as a later
generation's struggle with idolatry.
Regarding the inhabitants of that land, Moses says that
God is going to "wipe out those nations from your path
and you shall dispossess them" (Deuteronomy 31:3).
Kind of makes you squirm, doesn't it? Deuteronomy is
loaded with similar passages that most of us find
irreconcilable with the Torah's more inspiring
commandments. According to Deuteronomy, the
Israelites were to "proscribe" the seven Canaanite
nations (20:17), "doom them to destruction, grant them
no terms, and give them no quarter" (7:2), as well as
"tear down their altars, smash their pillars...and consign
their images to the fire." (7:5) MORE>
Moses describes the Covenant between God and the
Israelites, urging the Israelites to uphold the Covenant
and honor the Torah so that they may be rewarded with
life in the land of Israel.
that you should say: ‘Who shall go over the sea
for us, and bring it to us . . . ?’” (Deuteronomy 30:11–13.)
Moses concludes his speech to the Israelites, blesses
Joshua, and instructs the community to gather every
seven years to read publicly from the Torah; God
predicts the eventual straying of the Israelites.
The Ark Crosses the Jordan River (illustration from a
Bible card published circa 1896–1913 by the Providence
Lithograph Company)
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HARAV * KOOK'S *
* TORAH * INSTITUTE
PARASHAT * NITZAVIM *
PARASHAT * VAYELEKH *
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More Commentaries From
Different Sectors Of Judaism
from Torah Topics for Today
from Hillel
from Kolel
from AJWS
from Orthodox Union
from Jewish Outreach Institute
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Isaiah offers a hopeful
anticipation of redemption.
The haftarah selection comes from Isaiah 61:10-63:9.
The text contains a palpable sense of anticipation, and Isaiah's tone is both excited and hopeful.
Isaiah begins by reminding the people that salvation is near, and that all of the nations will see it. He invokes imagery of weddings to symbolize triumph, and seedlings to symbolize growth. The nasty names that Israel has been called in the past--"Forsaken," "Desolate"--will be replaced by terms of affection.
Isaiah describes God’s commitment to the city of Jerusalem: "For the sake of Zion I will not be silent, for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still" (62:1). He details the ways that God will strengthen Jerusalem by appointing watchmen to guard the city day and night.
Then Isaiah describes God as a warrior who has returned victorious from battle, but is covered in the blood of his enemies. The prophet reminds the people that when God needed to be defended there was no one to come to His aid, because the people had abandoned Him. Still, God defeated His enemies, even without His people at His side.
At the end of the haftarah, Isaiah reassures the people that God will always come to their rescue: "In His love and pity He Himself redeemed them, raised them and exalted them all the days of old" (63:9).
Though the haftarah doesn't contain an explicit connection to the Torah portion, it does point towards a future redemption. As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah,
Isaiah begins by reminding the people that salvation is near, and that all of the nations will see it. He invokes imagery of weddings to symbolize triumph, and seedlings to symbolize growth. The nasty names that Israel has been called in the past--"Forsaken," "Desolate"--will be replaced by terms of affection.
Isaiah describes God’s commitment to the city of Jerusalem: "For the sake of Zion I will not be silent, for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still" (62:1). He details the ways that God will strengthen Jerusalem by appointing watchmen to guard the city day and night.
Then Isaiah describes God as a warrior who has returned victorious from battle, but is covered in the blood of his enemies. The prophet reminds the people that when God needed to be defended there was no one to come to His aid, because the people had abandoned Him. Still, God defeated His enemies, even without His people at His side.
At the end of the haftarah, Isaiah reassures the people that God will always come to their rescue: "In His love and pity He Himself redeemed them, raised them and exalted them all the days of old" (63:9).
Though the haftarah doesn't contain an explicit connection to the Torah portion, it does point towards a future redemption. As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah,
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