by Rabbi Margie Cella This parashah consists of Moses’ final song to the nation, his farewell message. In it, he offers praise to God for all that God has done for the nation and exhorts the...
by Rabbi Margie Cella Moses is now 120 years old; God has told him he will not cross over the Jordan. Joshua will lead them in his place, and God will go with them as they enter the land, destroying the...
by Rabbi Margie Cella Moses calls together the entire nation to hear the end of his third and final speech: the men, children, wives, and strangers all gather to enter into the covenant. They...
by Rabbi Margie Cella Moses again exhorts the people to keep God’s commandments “with all your heart and soul” (26:16). Just as “You have declared the Lord to be your God,” he says, “the Lord has declared...
by Rabbi Margie Cella Moses reminds the nation of many of God’s commandments. Several concern marriage: a woman taken captive in war shaves her head, cuts her nails, and mourns her parents for a month...
by Rabbi Margie Cella Moses emphasizes the importance of a judicial system: judges shall be appointed to judge fairly, not taking bribes. He instructs them, צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף…., “Justice, justice shall...
by Rabbi Margie Cella Moses continues his instructions to the nation: when entering the land, they must destroy all the Canaanite worship places; they are to remain faithful to God and must not worship...
by Rabbi Margie Cella Moses’ discourse to the nation continues as they are poised to enter the promised land. He exhorts them to remember the deliverance from Egypt and the 40 years in the desert; they...
by Rabbi Margie Cella This week’s parashah contains a wealth of important passages: the second account of the experience at Horeb (Sinai) when we received the Ten Commandments (5:5-18), as well...
by Rabbi Margie Cella This parashah begins the fifth and final book of the Torah. The events described here take place in the fortieth year after leaving Egypt: Israel is poised to...
