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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
In his enumeration of the various leadership roles within the nation that would take shape after his death, Moses mentions not only the priest/judge and king but also the prophet: “The Lord your G-d will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.” Moses would [...]
If you seek to understand Judaism’s social vision, look at its anti-poverty legislation. “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your G-d is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tight-fisted toward your poor brother. Rather be open-handed and freely lend [...]
A sequence of verses in this week’s sedra gave rise to a beautiful Talmudic passage – one that has found a place in the siddur. It is among the readings we say after the Evening Service on Saturday night as Shabbat comes to an end. Here is the text on which it is based: [...]
One of the most profound disagreements in Judaism is that between Moses Maimonides and Judah Halevi on the meaning of the first of the Ten Commandments. For Maimonides (1135-1204), the first command is to believe in G-d, creator of heaven and earth: The basic principle of all basic principles and the pillar of all [...]