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| Home » Writings, Speeches, Broadcasts » Covenant & Conversation » 5769 |
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| Ha'azinu 5769 |
| 26/9/2009 |
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In the glorious song with which Moses addresses the congregation, he invites the people to think of the Torah – their covenant with G-d – as if it were like the rain that waters the ground so that it brings forth its produce:
Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.
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| Nitzavim-Vayelech 5769 |
| 9/9/2009 |
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At the end of his life, having given the Israelites at G-d's behest 612 commands, Moses is instructed to give them the last; command 613:
Now therefore write down for yourselves this song, and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be my witness within the people of Israel. (Deut. 31: 19)
According to the plain sense of the verse, G-d is speaking to Moses and Joshua and is referring to the song in the following chapter, "Listen, O he... |
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| Ki Tavo 5769 |
| 5/9/2009 |
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Ki Tavo begins with the ceremony of bringing firstfruits to the Temple. The Mishnah (Bikkurim 3) gives a detailed account of what happened:
Those that were near to Jerusalem brought fresh figs and grapes, and those that were far away brought dried figs and raisins. Before them went the ox, its horns overlaid with gold, and with a ... |
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| Ki Tetse 5769 |
| 29/8/2009 |
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In Deuteronomy 24, we encounter for the first time the explicit statement of a law of far-reaching significance:
“Parents shall not be put to death for children, nor children who put to death for parents: a person shall be put to death only for his own crime. (Deut. 24:16)"
We have strong historical evidence as to what this law was excluding, namely vicarious punishment, the idea that someone else may be punished for my crime:
For example, in the Middle Assy... |
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