Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. A reminder that we'll be getting closer and closer to the High Holydays. In fact we'll celebrate the Eve of Rosh Hashanah on Sunday the 25th starting at 7:00PM at shul. Then on the 26th of September we will hold services starting at 10:00AM. Just wanted to get this out to you as soon as possible so you might plan ahead. Also, starting on Saturday after Shabbat we'll be 40 days away from Yom Kippur.
This week we read Parsha Re'eh you will find that in Deut. 11:26 - 16:17
Parsha Re'eh
This week we we are given a choice. The Hebrew word "Re'eh" means "See" as in, "See, I present before you a blessing and a curse..." This is the first line and it has to do with all of the
commandments. That if Israel is true to them Hashem will bless the people and the land. However, if not...well, that's not so good. We are warned not to follow other gods.
The portion continues with rules and laws for the Land of Israel, primarily oriented towards staying away from idol worship and the other religions in the land. In verses 13:1-12 you will find the section that caused a missionary’s face to blanch and silenced him from continuing to proselytize a renowned rabbi.
Wait, What Does This Mean?
One of the most interesting words in the Torah that gives rise to the Oral Torah, later what has become the Talmud, is this from verse 12:21: "You will slaughter animals […] according to the manner I (G-d) have prescribed.” Nowhere in the Torah are we instructed in the manner of shechita, ritual slaughter. One might conclude that there was a very sloppy editor. Or one might conclude that there are additional teachings (the Oral Law/Talmud) clarifying and amplifying the written Word. Which, by the way, we can totally buy into.
Choosing is Important
The source of the Chosen People concept is brought this week: “You are a nation consecrated to God your Lord. G-d has chosen you from all nations on the face of the earth to be His own special nation” (Deut. 14: 1-2). So, what does that mean? Are we better than everybody else? No and that idea has, over the centuries caused many deaths among Jews as those who are not Jewish somehow are out to prove they, not the Jew, is chosen. But, they are mistaken. We are chosen for responsibility, not privilege – to act morally and to be a “light unto the nations.” There is great responsibility in being Jewish and doing with G-d asks of us.
The portion then gives instructions regarding: permitted and forbidden foods, the Second Tithe, remissions of loans every 7 years, treatment of those in need (to be warm-hearted and open-handed), a Jewish bondsman, and the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot).
In other words...so much packed into this week's Parsha.
The Number 40
Finally let's look at the number forty. It plays a huge part of our faith. It represents change or a transition. For example, there were forty days of The Flood, forty years in the wilderness, forty measures of water in a mikvah, forty days and nights that Moses was up on the mountain three different times. But, perhaps the most important of these interesting times would be the forty days that Moses was back on the mountain to bring back the second set of commandments. At the end of each of those forty days/nights there was a dramatic change.
Those forty days that Moses was back on the mountain and came back with the second set of unbroken tablets began on the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul and ended on Yom Kippur.
That forty day period begins, for us, on Sunday and, yes, ends on Yom Kippur. So? One of the things the rabbis tell us is that we must use these forty days from Sunday the 28th of September (1st of Elul) to October 5th the first day of Tishrei to produce...change. A meaningful change in our personal/religious life.
Perhaps to get "back on track" with out studies. Or get into the habit of giving charity every day. Or to start each day by saying the Shema. Or by making sure we get to the shul for services and the Midrash so we can learn and grow and...change.
Let's not waste a moment.
Shabbat Shalom!
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