SHOFTIM: Deuteronomy Chapter 16:18-21:9

  
SHOFTIM: Deuteronomy Chapter 16:18-21:9

The Torah reading for this Shabbat is Parshat Shoftim.

On this particular Shabbat we bless the New Moon of the Hebrew month of Elul.

Usually seven days after blessing the moon we perform a ritual known as  קידוש לבנה

Sanctification of the Moon , or Kiddush Levanah.

In this ritual we ask Hashem to renew us as He has renewed the moon.

It may be that through our children we are renewed.

In Parshat Shoftim, Hashem says at 16:20 -
צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף
“Justice, justice shall you pursue…”
The verse just as well could have substituted honesty or integrity or fair dealing as well as lawfulness and truthfulness for the word justice.
All of those characteristics are a part of doing deeds of kindness.

We are a people of kindness and compassion.

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In Parshat Shoftim Moshe instructs us to appoint judges and law enforcement officers in every city. “Justice, justice shall you pursue,” he commands them, and you must administer it without corruption or favoritism. Crimes must be meticulously investigated and evidence thoroughly examined—a minimum of two credible witnesses is required for conviction and punishment

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In Parshat Shoftim we learn some of the rules of war.

Rambam writes extensively about this subject in his Mishneh Torah  He describes two categories of war:

• Milchomet Mitzvah which is a war fought to assist Israel from an enemy that attacks us.  There is no need to ask permission in order to fight this war.
  
• Milchomet Reshut which is war fought in order to expand the borders of Israel or to magnify the king's greatness or reputation.  In this case the 71 judges of the Sanhedrin must give its approval.

In 609 BCE, King Josiah of Judea was mortally wounded when he led an Israeli army beyond the borders of Judea in support of Babylonia against the armies Assyria and Egypt. 

This was the start of events that led to the destruction of Jerusalem some 23 years later.  I wonder if the king had the approval of the Sanhedrin, if indeed there was a Sanhedrin.? 

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In Parshat Shoftim at 17:14 we learn about the setting up of a king:

 

וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֗ אָשִׂ֤ימָה עָלַי֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ כְּכָל־הַגּtוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סְבִֽיבֹתָֽי

 

“… you will say, "I will set a king over me, like all the nations around me"

 

This inevitable situation foreseen by Hashem did not lead to anything good for us Jews in the Kingdom of Judah.  In the period from the reign of the son of Solomon until Zedekiah we had no less than 18 rulers.  How many do you recall?  How many were any good?

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Parshat Shoftim concludes with the law of the “Eglah Arufah” — the beheading of a calf  -  a special ritual procedure followed when a person is killed by an unknown murderer and the corpse is found in a field distant from villages and towns.  This ritual underscores the responsibility of the community and its leaders not only for what they do, but also for what they might have prevented.  It also signals all of us that if we do what is right, then tragedies such as this will be prevented.

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This is one take-away from last year's Reb Yitz’s Monday morning shiur:

From Rav Kook’s final shiur – During the month of Elul and on Rosh Hashanah we blow the shofar.

In terms of acceptability there are three available sources for this shofar :

1, A shofar made from a sheep’s horn is the most acceptable.

2. A shofar made from a kosher animal other than a sheep is also acceptable but is not as favorable as that made from a sheep.

3. Where there is no horn from a sheep or other kosher animal available, it is permissible for us to use the horn of a cow.

The gist of the hierarchy of sources for making a shofar is that not all Jews do a Mitzvah or lead a Jewish life, and all of its implications, in the same way or to the same degree of acceptability.

But the important thing is to reach out to Hashem as best we can and in doing so show the unity our Jewish nation and people.

 

EIKEV, DEVARIM 7:12 - 11:25

 INTRODUCTION: If You Need Something To Say At The Sabbath Table contains snippets from the weekly Torah portion.  The goal of If you need something to say at the Sabbath Table is to bring more Torah to English speakers living in Israel and abroad.

For some who have recently immigrated to Israel, there may be the nagging sentiment of being in a foreign country. If you need something to say at the Sabbath Table is intended to do away with that sentiment, for you not to be a stranger in a strange land.

And for those living abroad, it is a means to come closer to the Divine.

If however you are living in the Land, you are already a step closer.

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EIKEV, DEVARIM 7:12 - 11:25

 

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In the opening verse of the Parshah, what does “EIKEV” mean?  How is it translated?

Here are some choices:

• ·       Because
• ·       If you follow
• ·       As a consequence
• ·       In the end
•         As a reward

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The second word in the Parshah is עֵקֶב. This word is sometimes translated as “because”. 

וְהָיָה | עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם וְשָׁמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ אֶת הַבְּרִית וְאֶת הַחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ

“And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform, that the Lord, your God, will keep for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers”.

עֵקֶב is used in the context of the benefit that accrues to one who listens and obeys what Hashem has to say.

In Parshat Bereishis at 26:55 עֵקֶב  is used in a similar vein as our Parshah, when Isaac is addressed by Hashem:        

עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקֹלִי וַיִּשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמַרְתִּי מִצְו‍ֹתַי חֻקּוֹתַי וְתוֹרֹתָי 

“Because Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My instructions."

Something to think about:

Translating עֵקֶב as "in the end" changes the meaning of both examples.  In the first example we begin to think of the end of days and its connotations.  In the second example we get the appearance that at first Abraham did not do what he was supposed to do.

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Parshat Eikev, 7:12-15, begins:

“And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform, that the Lord, your God, will keep for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers”.      

These are the results if we do as directed:

13. And He will love you and bless you and multiply you…

14. You shall be blessed above all peoples…

15. And the Lord will remove from you all illness…

These are physical rewards.  But having physical rewards enables us to reach higher and have lofty asperations.

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MANNA

Anonymous, from a library in Fulda, Germany, 1350-1375

Devarim 8:3

 וַיְעַנְּךָ, וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ, וַיַּאֲכִלְךָ אֶת-הַמָּן אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדַעְתָּ, וְלֹא יָדְעוּן אֲבֹתֶיךָ:  לְמַעַן הוֹדִיעֲךָ, כִּי לֹא עַל-הַלֶּחֶם לְבַדּוֹ יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם--כִּי עַל-כָּל-מוֹצָא פִי-יְהוָה, יִחְיֶה הָאָדָם.

"And He afflicted you and let you go hungry, and then fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your forefathers know, so that He would make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but rather by, whatever comes forth from the mouth of the Lord does man live".

In Parashat Eikev, Moshe describes the gift of Manna as a hardship.  Why?

It seems strange to us that the gift of Manna would be treated so suspiciously.  A free, endless, nutritious supply of food.  No worries about starving.  No effort needed to attain one’s daily portion, no need to cook it.  It sounds like – well, manna from heaven.

Possible Answer: “Man does not live by bread alone”.  

Manna is not enough.

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DESCRIPTION OF ISRAEL

 

8:7

כִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ מְבִֽיאֲךָ֖ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ טוֹבָ֑ה אֶ֚רֶץ נַ֣חֲלֵי מָ֔יִם עֲיָנֹת֙ וּתְהֹמֹ֔ת יֹֽצְאִ֥ים בַּבִּקְעָ֖ה וּבָהָֽר:

“For the Lord your God is bringing you to a good land, a land with brooks of water, fountains and depths, that emerge in valleys and mountains,”

Living in the Land, I can vouch for that.

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8:8

אֶ֤רֶץ חִטָּה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֔ה וְגֶ֥פֶן וּתְאֵנָ֖ה וְרִמּ֑וֹן אֶֽרֶץ־זֵ֥ית שֶׁ֖מֶן וּדְבָֽשׁ:

“a land of wheat and barley, vines and figs and pomegranates, a land of oil producing olives and honey,”

Israel is a land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs, dates and pomegranates, a land of oil-producing olives. These grains and fruits are called the "Seven Species".

The Seven Species are traditionally eaten on Tu Bishvat, the Jewish "New Year for Trees", on Sukkot, the "Festival of Booths", and on Shavuot, the "Festival of Weeks". In Halakha, they are considered more important than other foods, and a special blessing is recited after eating them. Additionally, the blessing prior to eating them precedes those of other food items, except for bread.  

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Iron Meteorite

8:9

אֶ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹ֤א בְמִסְכֵּנֻת֙ תֹּֽאכַל־בָּ֣הּ לֶ֔חֶם לֹֽא־תֶחְסַ֥ר כֹּ֖ל בָּ֑הּ אֶ֚רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲבָנֶ֣יהָ בַרְזֶ֔ל וּמֵֽהֲרָרֶ֖יהָ תַּחְצֹ֥ב נְחֽשֶׁת:

“a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, you will lack nothing in it, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose mountains you will hew copper”.

Consider extracting some additional meaning from this week’s Parshat Eikev:  

I am interested in particular in Devarim 8:9 because most of my working life I was employed in the mining industry.

The verse in question says: “a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, you will lack nothing in it, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose mountains you will quarry copper”.

At the time when Moses speaks these words, we are at the very end of the Bronze Age.  If 40 years before, the Pharaoh had used iron chariots to pursue the Israelites, the text would have said so.  More conclusively, in the Book of Joshua (17:16), less than 14 years into the future, the Tribe of Ephraim and the half Tribe of Menashe approach Joshua who is responsible for dividing up the Land.  They ask for more land because they are not able to go up against the Canaanites who dwell in the valleys because the Canaanites have iron chariots.  At this juncture we have passed from the Bronze Age into the Iron Age in less than 14 years’ time.

 Devarim 8:9 it speaks about stones of iron.  This reference does not describe iron ore, but describes iron that is found in meteorites, a rare an extremely valuable commodity.  There is no iron ore in Israel, and even if there was, the technology for locally smelting iron was not existent. Iron meteorites are generally composed of iron and nickel, and do not require smelting.

 Then there is the giant Og who was not known for a throne of gold, but for a bed of iron which most certainly was of meteorite origin (Devarim 3:11). 

I think there is an extra biblical source for closing in on the date when Moses is speaking: The Bronze Age Pharaoh, Tutankhamen, the boy king of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, ruled from about 1333 to 1323 BCE.  An elaborate dagger whose origin is also from meteorites is found in his tomb along with other precious objects. 

My hypothesis is that King Tut’s dagger, Og’s iron bed, the iron stones of Devarim 8:9 mark the upper end of the Bronze Age, followed by the Age of Iron as evidenced by the Canaanite iron chariots.

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8:10

וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ:

“And you will eat and be sated, and you shall bless the Lord, your God, for the good land He has given you”.

Based on this verse it is a mitzvah that following a meal which includes at least an olive sized piece of bread to thank Hashem for our food with a series of blessings.  They are called “Birchas Hamazon”.

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At 10:18-19 we learn about the גֵּ֔ר, the convert or possibly the foreigner or stranger and the treatment of them:

עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפַּט יָתוֹם, וְאַלְמָנָה; וְאֹהֵב גֵּר, לָתֶת לוֹ לֶחֶם וְשִׂמְלָה

“He executes the judgment of the orphan and widow, and He loves the convert, to give him bread and clothing”.

 וַאֲהַבְתֶּם, אֶת-הַגֵּר:  כִּי-גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם.

“You shall love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt”.

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At 9:5, Hashem reminds us through Moshe not to be self-righteous:

לֹ֣א בְצִדְקָֽתְךָ֗ וּבְי֨שֶׁר֙ לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ אַתָּ֥ה בָ֖א לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אֶת־אַרְצָ֑ם כִּ֞י בְּרִשְׁעַ֣ת | הַגּוֹיִ֣ם 

“Not because of your righteousness or because of the honesty of your heart, do you come to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations,”

I would call this relativism: we’re only in the Land because the other nations are a lot worse then we are which makes us the best of a bad lot.

Relativism is the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute (as per Google)..

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Eikev in the liturgy

In the Blessing after Meals (Birkat Hamazon), we quote Deuteronomy 8:10, the Scriptural basis for the Blessing after Meals,

And you will eat and be sated, and you shall bless the Lord, your God, for the good land He has given you.

The opening sentence of the Amidah prayer quotes Moses's characterization of God in Deuteronomy 10:17

as “the  great mighty and awesome ….”

The Passover Haggadah, in the Magid section of the Seder, quotes Deuteronomy 10:22.

With seventy souls, Your forefathers descended to Egypt, and now the Lord, your God, has made you as the stars of heaven in abundance.

Deuteronomy 11:13–21 is the second of three blocks of verses in the Shema, we combine Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41 to form the core of K'riat Shema, recited in the evening (מעריב‎, Ma'ariv) and morning (שַחֲרִת‎, Shacharit) prayer services.

 

 

 

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My friend Max has prepared a set of questions and answers for us that relate to Parshat, Eikev. 

 

1-WHAT 5-THINGS DO WE CELEBRATE ON TU B'AV ?

     1- 15,000 JEWISH DEATH EVERY TISHA B'AV STOPPED

      2-SHEVATIM WERE ALLOWED TO INTERMARRY 

      3-COMPLETTING CUTTING THE WOOD FOR THE SACRIFICES

      4-HOSHEA BE ELA STOPPED THE GUARDS FROM IDOL WORSHIP 

       5-VICTIMS OF BEITAR FINALLY  WERE BURIED 

2-WHAT ARE THE WONDERS , STRONG HANDS, AND OUTSTRETCHED ARM JEWS SAW IN EGYPT ?

       PLAQUES, PESTILENCE, ANS SLAYING THE FIRST BORNS 

3-HOW MANY DAY DID MOSHE SPEND ON MT. SINAI ALTOGETHER ?

       40 X 3 = 120 TOTAL DAYS 

4-ON WHAT DAY DID MOSHE COME DOWN FROM MT. SINAI DRAWING COMPLETE FORGIVENESS 

       TENTH OF TISHRI , YOM KIPPUR 

5-HOW WAS AHARON PUNISHED FOR HIS ROLE IN THE GOLDEN CALF ?

        HIS TWO SONS DIED 

6-WHY WERE THE LEVI'IM CHOSEN BY HASHEM ?

        THEY DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SIN OF THE GOLDEN CALF 

7-WHAT ONE ASPECT OF MAN'S LIFE NOT IN HASHEM'S HANDS ?

         FEAR OF HASHEM , THAT IS DEPENDENT ON THE PERSON 

8-WHAT IS MEANT BY " CIRCUMCISING ONE'S HEART  " ?

         REMOVE THESE THINGS THAT BLOCK WORDS OF TORAH FROM ENTERING  

9-WHAT PATH DOES THE TORAH PRESCRIBE FOR GAINING  NEW KNOWLEDGE ?

         BY REPEATEDLY REVIEWING WHAT ONE HAS LEARNED 

10-WHAT ACTIVITY IS SERVING HASHEM WITH THE HEART ?

         PRAYER 

11-HOW DOES ONE "CLEAVE TO HASHEM "?

        ATTACHING ONESELF TO TORAH SCHOLARS 

12-WHICH FAMOUS RABBANIM DESCENDED FROM CONVERTS /

        SHEMAYA, AVATALYON, RABBI AKIVA, RABBI MEIR, ONKELOS, YOCHANAN BEN TORTA 

13-WHAT SHOULD YEREI SHAMAYIM SAY AT LEAST 3-TIMES A WEEK ?

       REVIEW PARASHAT HASHAVUA 3-TIMES EACH WEEK 

       SHNAYIM MIKRA V'ECHAD TARGUM

14-WHICH 2-ORLAH MUST EVERY JEWISH MAN HAVE REMOVED ?

       BRIT MILAH, AND ORLAH THAT COVERS THE HEART 

15-WHAT IS THE IDEAL CLASS SIZE ( BABA BASRA ) ?

        TEN STUDENTS 

16-HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD A JEW SAY " MODEH ANI " ?

       TWICE A DAY, UPON AWAKENING IN THE MORNING ANF UPON SLEEPING AT NITE

17-WHICH AVEIROS DID ACHAN DO THAT COST HIM HIS LIFE ?

       STOLE RICHES FROM 4-DIFFERENT CHEIREMS ( BANS ) 

18-IN THE MERIT OF HOW MANY TZADDIKIM DID HASHEM FORGIVE JEWS FROM THE EIGEL ?

        77 PLUS THE AVOT =  80 TZADDIKIM 

19-WHY DO WE PLACE TEFILLIN ON THE LEFT WEAK HAND ?

       ALL OF OUR SUCCESS IS ATTRIBUTED TO HASHEM HELP 

20-WHEN DID SOMETHING INANIMATE GROW /

       CHILDREN'S CLOTH IN THE DESERT GREW BY THEMSELVES 

21-WHAT ZECHUS SAVED DANIEL FROM THE LIONS /

        EATING ONLY KOSHER FOODS 

22-WHY MAKE EFFORT TO DAVEN IN A INYAN /

      DIVINE PRESENCE OF HASHEM IS WITH THE MINYAN ALWAYS 

23-WHAT ARE THE 3-PARTS OF A GOOD TEFILLAH .

      PRAISE, REQUEST, AND THANKS 

24-WHICH MITZVAH SHOULD BE DONE WHILE SITTING ?

       BENCHING , BIRCHAT HAMAZON 

25-AT WHAT 3-PLACES SHOULD ONE NOT SIT IN THE SCHUL?

       NEAR DOOR ENTRANCE, NEXT TO THE REBBE, AND NEXT TO A RASHA 

26-HOW WAS BAR KOCHBA GOT KILLED ?

       KILLED BY A SNAKE ,IN AN  ACT OF CHUTZPAH 

27-WHAT BLESSING YOU GIVE WHEN YOU SEE A GREAT TORAH SCHOLAR ?

      BARUCH ATA ------THAT YOU GIVE WISDOM TO THOSE WHO FEAR YOU 

28-WHAT IS A TEFILAH WITHOUT CONCENTRATION ?

       IS LIKE A BODY WITHOUT A SOUL 

29-WHAT IS THE "LITMUS TEST"  IF YOU REALLY FEAR HASHEM ?

       HOW YOU BEHAVE WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING 

30-HOW MUCH BREAD MUST YOU EAT FOR BENCHING ?

       RABBONON OLIVE SIZE BREAD 

        TORAH EGG SIZE BREAD 

31-WHAT IS DECIDED ABOUT EACH PERSON BEFORE BIRTH ?

      RICH OR POOR, HEALTHY OR ILL, AND STRONG OR WEAK

       TZADDIK OR RASHA DEPENDS ON THE PERSON HIMSELF 

32-IN WHICH 2-TZADDIKIM IS THE WORD EIKEV IS EMBEDDED , AND WHY ?

       YAAKOV = EXTRA YOD  IS FOR 10=10 COMMANDMENTS 

         AKIVA = EXTRA YOY, AND ALEPH  FOR 11 ==CAN YOU GUESS?

VA’ETCHANAN, DEVARIM 3:23-7:11

 VA’ETCHANAN, DEVARIM 3:23-7:11

 

In Parshat Va'etchanan, Moshe repeats the Ten Commandments, reminding us that the Sinai covenant was not limited to those who were physically present at Mount Sinai.  You and I and all of us were there.

We are instructed to tell our children as to why we observe all the commandments: “We were slaves in Egypt, and G‑d took us out in order that we serve Him, so that we could reap the rewards for doing so.”

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  In PARSHAT VA'ETCHANAN we delve into the mitzvot.  These are:

The commandment of the unification of God.

The commandment of loving God.

The commandment of Torah study.

The law of the recitation of Shema morning and evening.

The commandment of the tefillin of the arm.

The commandment of the tefillin of the head.

To affix a mezuzah on entrances.

Not to test a true prophet more than is necessary.

The commandment of killing the seven nations

Not to grace and to have mercy on an idolaters.

Not to marry with idolaters.

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In Va’etchanan, Rabbi Riskin comments on the Laws and Statutes that we are required to learn, not just for ourselves, but for how the nations of the world will view and judge us. Rabbi Riskin’s comments are presented in a 8 minute video that is well worth viewing:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ji-YeBsS3FQ

In Chapter 4, verse 6, Hashem says as follows:

“And you shall observe and do, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the eyes of the nations, who will hear all these statutes and say, "Only this great nation is a wise and understanding people. "”

In his commentary, Rabbi Riskin is right on target.

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The Haftarah portion is from the Book of Isaiah  (40:1-26), and this Shabbos is called the Shabbos of Consolation, נחמו. 

נַַֽֽחֲמ֥וּ נַֽחֲמ֖וּ עַמִּ֑י יֹאמַ֖ר אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם

"Console, console My people," says your God”.

 

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach,ז''ל , sings "Nachamu, Nachamu Ami".  It is beautiful.

https://youtu.be/5dptj7zzIig

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In Parshat Va'etchanan, Moshe contends with Hashem; Moshe pleads one more time to be able to enter Land of Israel.

But Hashem shuts him down (3:26):

וַיִּתְעַבֵּר יְהוָה בִּי לְמַעַנְכֶם, וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלָי; וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי, רַב-לָךְ--אַל-תּוֹסֶף דַּבֵּר אֵלַי עוֹד, בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה.

“But the Lord was angry with me because of you, and He did not listen to me, and the Lord said to me, "It is enough for you; speak to Me no more regarding this matter””.

Hashem’s response to Moshe is not easy to understand.  It seems that Hashem in a certain sense has limits (as we do) beyond which He will not go.

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My friend Max has come up with a quiz that relates to the Parshat Va'etchanan Torah readings.

 Here are his questions.   Do your best.

The Answers are appended to the end of the essay.

QUIZ QUSTIONS

1-MOSHE " I PRAYED TO HASHEM AT THAT TIME , WHAT TIME ?

2-WHAT CHARACTERISTICS TRAIT IS REPRESENTED BY HASHEM'S STRONG HAND ?

3-WHAT IS HALEVANON ?

4- WHAT DID HASEM TELL JOSHUA AFTER BATTLE OF AI ?

5-HOW DID THE DECREE THAT MOSHE NOT ENTER THE LAND AFFECT HIM 

6-WHAT IS HINTED BY THE WORD V'NOSHHANTEM ?

7-WHY WERE THE JEWS EXILED TWO YEARS EARLIER THAN MOSHE'S PROPHECY ?

8-"YOU WILL SERVE MAN-MADE GODS " IS THIS LITERAL 

9-WHY IS EAST CALLED MIZRACH        

10-WHEN DID THE HASHEM FIRST COMMANDED US TO KEEP SHABBAT ?   

11-WHERE IS THE WORD TOTAFOT COMES FROM ?    

12-WHAT DOES IT MEAN JEWS ARE THE SMALLEST NATION ?

13-WHEN SOMEONE SERVES HASHEM WITH LOVE , HOW MANY GENERATIONS RECEIVES REWARDS

14-WHICH LETTERS OF THE SHEMA SHOULD BE PROLONGED IN AN ELONGATED MANNER, & WHY?

  LENGTHEN THE PRONUNCIATION OF THE WORD ECHAD ,(ALEPH, CHET , DALET)

15-HOW SHOULD JEWS DIVIDE THEIR LEARNING INTO  3 DISTINCT PARTS ?  

16-HOW MANY WORDS ARE IN THE SHEMA & WHY ?      

17-HOW DOES ONE FULFILL THE "AHAVAS HASHEM "?

18-HOW CAN THE TEFILLIN REMIND US OF ALL THE 613 MITZVOT?

19-WHAT SHOULD YOU BEAR IN MIND WHEN SEEING YOUR MEZUZAH    

20-WHY DID ZERESH TELL HAMAN TO HANG MORDECHAI FIRST THING IN THE MORNING?

21-WHY DO WE THANK HASHEM FOR GIVING US THE TORAH IN MIDDLE OF BENCHING ?   

22-WHICH WORDS ARE APPROPRIATE TO SAY NEXT TO THE MEZUZAH ?   

23-WHICH MITZVAH CAN PREVENT THE JEWS FROM BEING ATTACKED BY THEIR ENEMIES ?     

24-HOW MANY TIMES DID MOSHE PRAY TO ENTER THE LAND ?   

25-FROM WHERE DO WE LEARN TO SAY THE SHEMA  BEFORE PASSING AWAY

26-HOW CAN ONE FULFILL THE OBLIGATION TO LEARN TORAH DAY & NITE ?     

27-HOW MANY MITZVOT ARE MENTIONED IN THE SHEMA?     

28-WHAT ARE THE BLESSINGS FOR GOOD AND TIDINGS ?   

29-WHAT CONNECTION IS THERE BETWEEN TISHA B'AV AND VA'ETCHANAN ?

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I think there is a connection between Moshe’s attempt to resist Hashem’s decree and the finality of Hashem’s response in a Kinah that we recited Sunday morning on Tisha B’Av.

Once a year we also contend with Hashem (as per Rabbi Solovoichek).  On Tisha B’Av in Kinah 7 we make this challenge to Hashem:

“How did you rush in your anger to eradicate your faithful ones at the hand of the Edomites…”?

I don't know the answer to either challenge, but sooner or later going to shiurim either I'll figure out or some Rabbi will teach me (B'ezrat Hashem).

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In this week’s Parshah at 6:4-9  we are presented with “Shema Yisrael”, a central prayer in our liturgy.  In contrast to the Ten Commandments, it is a commandment to recite Shema Yisrael twice a day.  At its basic root Shema Yisrael is about monotheism, but on the same token the Ten Commandments expresses the oneness of God:

“לֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים עַל־פָּנָֽי”

“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me”.

But yet there is no Mitzvah to recite the Ten Commandments.

Any thoughts?

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PARASHAS VA'ETCHANAN QUIZ QUESTIONS // ANSWERS

1-MOSHE " I PRAYED TO HASHEM AT THAT TIME , WHAT TIME ?

      TIME AFTER DEFEATING SICHON AND OG 

2-WHAT CHARACTERISTICS TRAIT IS REPRESENTED BY HASHEM'S STRONG HAND ?

      HASHEM WILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE 

3-WHAT IS HALEVANON ?

       BEIT HAMIKDASH, IT MAKES THINGS WHITE AND PURE 

4- WHAT DID HASEM TELL JOSHUA AFTER BATTLE OF AI ?

       JOSHUA MUST LEAD THE ARMY INTO BATTLE 

5-HOW DID THE DECREE THAT MOSHE NOT ENTER THE LAND AFFECT HIM ?

       EVEN HIS REMAINS WERE NOT BURIED IN THE LAND 

6-WHAT IS HINTED BY THE WORD V'NOSHHANTEM ?

       GEMATRIA OF THE WORD IS 852 HINTS TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS UNTIL THE FIRST EXILE 

7-WHY WERE THE JEWS EXILED TWO YEARS EARLIER THAN MOSHE'S PROPHECY ?

       " SO THAT YOU SHALL BE  UTTERLY PERISH " WOULD NOT BE FULFILLED 

8-"YOU WILL SERVE MAN-MADE GODS " IS THIS LITERAL ?

        NO, IT MEANS YOU WILL SERVE OTHERS WHO SERVE IDOLS 

9-WHY IS EAST CALLED MIZRACH /

       IT'S THE DIRECTION FROM WHERE THE SUN RISES , MIZRACH MEAN SHINING 

10-WHEN DID THE HASHEM FIRST COMMANDED US TO KEEP SHABBAT ?

       AT MARAH 

11-WHERE IS THE WORD TOTAFOT COMES FROM ?

        TOT MEANS 2 IN CASPI, AND FOT MEANS 2 IN AFRIKI, 2+2= 4 SECTIONS IN TEFILLIN 

12-WHAT DOES IT MEAN JEWS ARE THE SMALLEST NATION ?

        BNEI YISRAEL ARE THE HUMBLEST NATION 

13-WHEN SOMEONE SERVES HASHEM WITH LOVE , HOW MANY GENERATIONS RECEIVES REWARDS?

        2,000 GENERATIONS 

14-WHICH LETTERS OF THE SHEMA SHOULD BE PROLONGED IN AN ELONGATED MANNER, & WHY?

         LENGTHEN THE PRONUNCIATION OF THE WORD ECHAD ,(ALEPH, CHET , DALET) 

          ALEPH = ONE MASTER,   CHET = SEVEN HEAVEN & EARTH, DALET = 4 DIRECTIONS 

15-HOW SHOULD JEWS DIVIDE THEIR LEARNING INTO  3 DISTINCT PARTS ?  

        1/3 TANACH, 1/3 MISHNAYOS, AND 1/3 TALMUD 

16-HOW MANY WORDS ARE IN THE SHEMA & WHY ?

         THERE 248 WORDS CORRESPONDING TO 248 BONES & LIMBS IN THE BODY & POSITIVE COMMANDMENTS 

17-HOW DOES ONE FULFILL THE "AHAVAS HASHEM "?

         BY STUDYING HIS TORAH 

18-HOW CAN THE TEFILLIN REMIND US OF ALL THE 613 MITZVOT? 

       TWO SHINS = 600, PLUS 8-STRAPS PLUS 5 COMPARTMENTS EQUAL 613

19-WHAT SHOULD YOU BEAR IN MIND WHEN SEEING YOUR MEZUZAH ?

       REMINDER TO ALWAYS ACCEPT THE KINGDOM OF HASHEM 

20-WHY DID ZERESH TELL HAMAN TO HANG MORDECHAI FIRST THING IN THE MORNING?

        NOT TO GIVE MORDECHAI A CHANCE TO PRAY THE SHEMA   

21-WHY DO WE THANK HASHEM FOR GIVING US THE TORAH IN MIDDLE OF BENCHING ?

         WE THANK HASHEM FOR PROVIDING US FOOD FOR OUR SOULS 

22-WHICH WORDS ARE APPROPRIATE TO SAY NEXT TO THE MEZUZAH ?

          HASHE IS THE MASTER OF ALL , ALWAYS 

23-WHICH MITZVAH CAN PREVENT THE JEWS FROM BEING ATTACKED BY THEIR ENEMIES ?

          MITZVAH OF SAYING THE SHEMA 

24-HOW MANY TIMES DID MOSHE PRAY TO ENTER THE LAND ?

        515 TIMES, THE GEMATRIA OF VA'ETCHANAN 

25-FROM WHERE DO WE LEARN TO SAY THE SHEMA  BEFORE PASSING AWAY?

        FROM RABBI AKIVA SAID IT BEFORE DYING IN THE HANDS OF THE ROMANS 

26-HOW CAN ONE FULFILL THE OBLIGATION TO LEARN TORAH DAY & NITE ?

         BY SAYING THE SHEMA AT LEAST TWICE A DAY

27-HOW MANY MITZVOT ARE MENTIONED IN THE SHEMA?

         OVER 20 MITZVOT ARE MENTIONED IN THE SHEMA 

28-WHAT ARE THE BLESSINGS FOR GOOD AND TIDINGS ?

       GOOD TIDINGS = HATOV VeHAMETIV,,BAD TIDINGS = DAYAN HAEMET 

29-WHAT CONNECTION IS THERE BETWEEN TISHA B'AV AND VA'ETCHANAN ?

       TISHA B'AV JEWS CRIED , DID NOT WANT TO ENTER THE LAND 

        VA'ETCHANAN MOSHE PRAYED MANY MANY TIMES TO ENTER THE LAND