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Very Close to You Moshe relates that G-d’s commandments are not hidden from them, nor are they far away. They are not in the heaven nor at sea (meaning they don’t have to travel far away to get to them). Rather the Torah was given to them in writing together with an oral explanation, soContinue reading “Nitzavim, 6th Aliya”

Curses on Israel’s Enemies. Return to G-d. Moshe prophecies that G-d will put all of the curses on the Israelites’ enemies and those who chase after them, that the Israelites will return to listening and obeying G-d’s commandments and that G-d will make their work produce abundance for them. When they obey G-d and returnContinue reading “Nitzavim, 5th Aliya”

Ingathering Moshe prophecies to the Israelites that after the blessings and curses previously spoken of come to pass, and they contemplate it all and subsequently return to G-d fully in heart and soul and obey Him, G-d will have mercy on them and gather all of the Israelites who will have been scattered around theContinue reading “Nitzavim, 4th Aliya”

Reminders and Collective Responsibility G-d says that they must vow not to practice idolatry since they may feel tempted to after living in Egypt and having seen other nations do so. Whether they were idols of wood and stone which they kept out in public as they did not fear that anyone would steal them,Continue reading “Nitzavim, 3rd Aliya”

Exclusive Relationship In exchange for G-d going to the trouble of being so exclusionary about Israel, vowing to the patriarchs that He would not exchange them with another nation, He expects them to be faithful to Him in kind. Rashi explains here that this Parsha of Nitzavim comes right after that of Ki Tavo asContinue reading “Nitzavim, 2nd Aliya”

Receiving the Covenant On the day of his death, Moshe brought the entire nation together in the presence of G-d to enter them into a covenant with Him. The text details the various factions of the nation he gathered in descending order of importance: The leader of the tribes, the elders, the officers, the otherContinue reading “Nitzavim, 1st Aliya”

Optional Wars. Eglah Arufah. Optional Wars There were certain wars which G-d commanded the Israelites to wage – such as the conquest of the land of Israel as well as the war against Amalek. Moshe instructs the nation that for any other wars which are not so commanded by G-d to wage, the nation isContinue reading “Shoftim, 7th Aliya”

Moshe’s Rebuke The following is an account of the rebuke that Moshe gave to the Jews on account of all of the times they angered G-d. Out of respect for them, Moshe does not mention all of their past transgressions explicitly but rather only alludes to them by listing the places in which they transgressed,Continue reading “Devarim, 1st Aliya”

Bilam’s Prophecies. Introducing Pinchas. Bilam tells Balak that he will “go to his people”, alluding to G-d having departed from him, so he is now like the rest of “his people”. He then goes on to advise Balak as to what he should do regarding the Israelites who will ultimately crush Moav (in the EndContinue reading “Balak, 7th Aliya”

Bilam Continues to Bless Israel. Balak Gets Angry Balak tells Bilam that he will take him to a different place. Balak is hopeful that perhaps there G-d will be happy with Bilam cursing Israel. The place Balak had in mind was Peor. He was a clairvoyant and foresaw that the Israelites were to be struckContinue reading “Balak, 6th Aliya”