From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, August 8, 9, 2025/14,15 Av 5785
The 15th day of Av in ancient times served as matchmaking day for unmarried women during the Second Temple period (before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C.E.). Today it is known as Chag Ha-Ahavah/the Festival of Love. In Israel it is the day for matchmaking, proposals, and weddings. The 15th day of Av falls during the summer months of July and August, and it is also called “Written Torah”, a day to increase your study of the Torah. Our congregation has a Torah study night on the first and third Thursday, held in the library of St. George, which starts at 6:30pm and is led by Markus Kohl or LaLonnie Swagger!
The Torah portion continues with the First discourse of Moses:
G-d rejects Moses’ request to enter the Promised Land, and there is a repeated warning against idolatry; Moses assigns the first three cities of refuge.
The Second discourse of Moses:
Covers the basis of the covenant between G-d and Israel, the reiteration of the Ten Commandments, The Sh’ma, and the exodus as an object lesson.
Some Judaic concepts and values in this Torah portion:
The Sh’ma/Hear, O Israel, and the prohibition of “trying” G-d.
Some mitzvot are the duty of transmitting the Torah teachings, Tefillin/phylacteries, mezuzah, and the prohibition against marrying out of the faith.
The Sh’ma prayer is a command to love your G-d with all your heart and soul. Why is it a command you may ask? How does one love someone that they can not see, can not speak to, can not hear, and do not fully comprehend their existence? This process is called EMUNAH/faith. Maimonides asserts that to love G-d means to dwell upon and think about G-d’s commandments. Children often asked me if G-d is real. My answer to them was, “Did you wake up and breathe? Were you able to get out of bed and walk? Were you…?” We must love G-d and try to understand His will. We do this by studying the Torah.
The prohibition of “trying” G-d: Deuteronomy 6:16 states that one must not try the Lord your G-d. A commentator known as Chinnuch says we try G-d “by fulfilling a mitzvah as if we were putting G-d to the test, to see if he will reward us, instead of doing good out of our love for G-d”. Some people reject G-d when their petitions are not granted, or they suffer or have distress in their lives. Receiving a reward should not be the expectation when performing a religious obligation. In Pirkei Avot/Sayings of our Forefathers, it states “The reward of a mitzvah is a mitzvah”. One should be delighted to serve G-d.
Keep in mind that even some of our ancestors argued with G-d; Abraham over saving the good people of Sodom and Gomorrah; the back and forth ended with “If there are only ten good people, would a just G-d destroy them too?”. G-d did not find ten good people. Lot and his family were spared; however, his wife did not follow the instructions. She looked back at the cities and turned into a pillar of Salt! Some of the tour guides in Israel point this out near the area of the Dead Sea. I am sure you may find other individuals while reading in the Torah that spoke to G-d and did not get what they desired either. G-d hears us, and He is with us always.
May this Sabbath see Israel have the hostages rescued and the Gaza area have peace.
May our prayers for rain here be answered soon.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
