Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Devarim HOW CAN I BEAR UNAIDED THE TROUBLE OF YOU, AND THE BURDEN, AND THE BICKERING! (Devarim 1:12)   "The Lord God called to the human and said to him: 'Ayeka' (Bereishit 3:9) – Eicha , Eicha, Eicha and "Ayeka" ("Ayeka" (where are you) and "eicha" ('alas' and 'how') share the same spelling.) Said Rabbi Abahu in the name of Rabbi Chanina: It is written (Hoshea 6), "But they, to a man,...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Devarim PROVIDE YOURSELVES WITH MEN, WISE, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE, FOR YOUR TRIBES, AND I WILL SET THEM AS YOUR HEADS. (Devarim 1:13)   "Men wise and knowledgeable" – But "understanding" I did not find. This is one of the seven attributes which Yitro had suggested to Moshe – yet he found only three: Men righteous, wise and knowledgeable. (Rashi ibid., ibid.)   The Halakhic Requirements for Judges The Bet Din (court) of three, even though its requirements are less stringent than those listed above, each member...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Devarim   YOU SHALL NOT BE PARTIAL IN JUDGEMENT . . . YOU ARE NOT TO BE IN FEAR OF ANY MAN, FOR JUDGEMENT IS GOD’S. (Devarim 1:17)   Said Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korha: From where do we know that if one sits before a judge, and you know a point in favor of the poor against the rich, you may not remain silent? Says Scripture: “You are not to be in fear of any man.” (Tosefta, Sanhedrin 1:4)   “FOR JUDGEMENT IS GOD’S” – When...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Devarim (link to original page) Parshat Devarim War Against the Slave Ethic Gitit Nahaliel-Rotberg This week's Torah portion Devarim is the first section of Deuteronomy. Throughout this book Moses, prior to his death, addresses the Israelites who are about to enter the Land of Israel. Deuteronomy consists mostly of ethical teachings and accounts of the Israelites' conquests before their entry to the Land of Israel. Moses recounts events of the recent past to teach the Israelites ethical lessons. Moses is fully aware that he will not lead the Israelites into the...