SHABBAT SHALOM (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim For only og king of the bashan remained From the rest of the rephaim. Look, his bedstead, and iron bedstead, Is it not in rabbah of ammonites? Nine cubits its length And four cubits its width by the cubit of a man. (Devarim 3:11)     For only Og king of the Bashan – This is the reason the Holy One, blessed be He, told him: "Have no fear of him." Look, his bedstead – the cradle of an infant...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim Remember, o lord, what happened to us, Look and see our shame. (Echa 5:1) 'Wherefore have we fasted, and Thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge?' – Behold, in the day of your fast ye pursue your business, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; ye fast not this day so as to make your voice...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim Because of mount zion, which lies desolate; Jackals prowl over it On another occasion they were coming up to Jerusalem together, and just as they came to Mount Scopus they saw a jackal emerging from the Holy of Holies. They fell a-weeping and R. Akiva seemed merry. Wherefore, said they to him, are you merry? Said he: Wherefore are you weeping? Said they to him: A place of which it was once said, And the common...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim And the Lord said to me, "Say to them, 'Neither go up nor fight, for I am not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies.' " So I spoke to you, but you did not listen, and you rebelled against the command of the Lord, and you acted wickedly and went up to the mountain. (Devarim 1:42-43)   Neither go up: There will be no ascent for you, but only a descent...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim "Allow me to pass through your land: I will go along by the highway, I will turn neither to the right nor to the left." You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink; I will only pass through by my feet. (Devarim 2:27-28)   Israel now sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites (Bamidbar 21:21): As Scripture says: Shun evil and do...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim THEN WE TURNED AND WENT UP THE WAY OF BASHAN, AND OG, THE KING OF BASHAN, CAME FORTH TOWARD US, HE AND ALL HIS PEOPLE, TO WAR AT EDREI AND THE LORD SAID TO ME, "DO NOT FEAR HIM, FOR I HAVE GIVEN HIM, ALL HIS PEOPLE, AND HIS LAND INTO YOUR HAND, AND YOU SHALL DO TO HIM AS YOU DID TO SIHON, KING OF THE AMORITES, WHO DWELT IN HESHBON." (Devarim 3:1-2)   and...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim THE LORD, YOUR GOD, HAS MULTIPLIED YOU, AND BEHOLD, YOU ARE TODAY AS THE STARS OF THE HEAVENS IN ABUNDANCE. (Devarim 1:10)   And, behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens But were they on that day as the stars of the heavens? Were they not only six hundred thousand? What, then, is "And, behold, you are today…?" -Behold, you are compared to...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim BECAUSE OF THIS OUR HEARTS ARE SICK, BECAUSE OF THESE OUR EYES ARE DIMMED: BECAUSE OF MOUNT ZION, WHICH LIES DESOLATE; FOXES PROWL OVER IT. (Eikhah 5:17-18)   Another time, they were going up to Jerusalem. When they reached Mt. Scopus, they tore their clothing. When they arrived at the Temple Mount, they saw a fox running out of the area where the Holy of Holies had been. They began to cry, while Rabbi...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Devarim ONLY OG KING OF BASHAN WAS LEFT OF THE REMAINING REFAIM. HIS BEDSTEAD, AN IRON BEDSTEAD, IN NOW IN RABBAH OF THE AMMONITES; IT IS NINE CUBITS LONG AND FOUR CUBITS WIDE, BY THE FORE-ARM OF A MAN. (Devarim 3:11)   An iron bedstead – When he was young he was very strong and when he lay down he would break a wooden bedstead. That is why they made it out of iron. But...

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 YOUR BICKERING! (Devarim 1:12)     This teaches you that they were contentious and combative towards each other. (Rabbeinu Behayeiy on Devarim 1:12)   That it is said, I cannot bear the burden of you by myself (Devarim 1:9) and afterwards, How can I bear unaided the trouble of you (1:12) can be interpreted in two ways: First, that the expression...