From The Rabbi’s Study…August 23,24, 2024/19,20 Av 5784
Last Shabbat was the Torah portion Va’etchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11) which contained Moses’ “First Discourse”; G-d rejects Moses’ request to enter the Promised Land, Repeated warning against idolatry, Moses assigns the first three cities of refuge.
This Sabbath the Torah portion has the “Second Discourse of Moses” which contains the following: Basis of the covenant between G-d and Israel, Reintegration of the Ten Commandments, The Shema, and the exodus as an object lesson, and continues further with the reward of obedience, the lessons of past history, and the warning against arrogance.
Did you know the Shema that we recite has a command? The first line is the tenet that the G-d is One. The V’Ahvata…is the command that “You Shall Love…” Why are we given this command? It is because one has to Love a G-d that can Not be seen, touched, or heard., which is true Emunah/FAITH! A Jewish person follows the Judaism faith that “G-d is, G-d was, and G-d will always BE!” (which is the words G-d spoke to Moses at the Burning Bush)
This Torah portion states that “you shall fear the Lord your G-d”(Deuteronomy 10:20).
Proverb 1:7 We are told that “the fear of G-d is the beginning of wisdom.” Reverence for G-d, as an acknowledgement of G-d’s infinite power of righteousness, is one of the keys to human wisdom.
Many faiths throughout time had and have many deities, pray to human beings (saints), and other inanimate objects (If you knock on wood, you are chasing the deity of wood to leave, i.e.) Judaism was the first Monotheistic religion, and the belief that G-d was not begotten, no parents, G-d has no spouse, hence no children, and is the cause, start, and finish of everything. (paraphrasing briefly, Maimonides). Yet many faiths have come and gone, many may have the Torah or some of the Torah as their foundations to their tenets of faith.
Then the “Warning Against Arrogance: Deuteronomy 8:17 states the following: “And you say in your heart: “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.” When blessed with prosperity, people often attribute their good fortune solely to their own efforts. Deuteronomy comes to remind us that all things ultimately come from G-d, and it is G-d who gives people the power to accumulate riches and win victories.
The Haftarah Isaiah is the second of the Haftarot of Consolation, and was recited on the Ninth of Av. The Haftarot messages are of comfort and hope during the weeks that follow the Ninth of Av (The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed twice on the same day, and was never rebuilt, the mosque is in the area). Isaiah spoke to the Jews in exile in Babylonia. It reassures the Jewish people that there is an unbreakable covenantal bond between G-d and Israel which continues to bind those in exile. Just as G-d’s promise to Abraham that he would have a great nation to all families of the earth has been fulfilled, so would the faith of the righteous remnant in Zion’s restoration be rewarded.
The Torah and the Haftarah (concluding portion of the Torah service, which has the Prophets and their writings) connection is one of Israel’s relationship with the Canaanites and the need to keep the faith and G-d’s laws in spite of living among idol worshippers. The ancient covenant which G-d sealed with our ancestors will always be binding to all future Jewish people.
As Israel is fighting against Hamas and Hezbollah, this week 6 Hostages were found killed. There are now 109 Hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
May we pray that the remaining Hostages be returned speedily to their loved ones and the war ends swiftly.
Shabbat Shalom v’ Am Ysrael Chai,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
My ICL class Israel: Ancient to Modern Times will be held on Tuesdays 10am -10:50 am in the Snow Building, room 125. It is near the Eccles on the Utah Tech University campus.
If you have questions for the rabbi, kindly send them to me (rabbi@beitchaverimutah.org) and I will answer them in the weekly drash. There are no silly questions. The Jewish people love to question and learn!
