A New Cycle, A New Goal/Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't know it well enough"-Alber Einstein

My goal for this year of divrei Torah are concise summaries in the form of haiku. More may be added if I feel that is is necessary. So, here we go.


The first beginning
Hashem said "Let there be light"
All good until man

V'zot HaBerach (33:1-34:12)

Is this really the end?

            V’zot HaBerach is the final parasha of Devarim, which makes it also the final parasha of the Torah. But it is certainly not where the story ends, the Neviim and the Ketuvim complete the Tanach and our people have had a rich, influential history full of times of perseverance since then.

            But for Moses, the story was over. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to go in, but the people he led, with G-d’s help, were able to enter The Promised Land. Like the song says “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” (“Closing Time”-Semisonic)

            

Ha'azinu (Deut. 32:1-32:52)

Respect Your Elders

           

Ha’azinu, this week’s parasha covers Moses’ song of praise and his ascention of Mt. Nebo. Deuteronomy 32:5 sees a comparison of G-d and Israel to that of a father and a child; An, at times disobedient, child and an understanding father.

Parent/child relationships are very important in our religion. The fifth commandment states “Honor your father and mother, that you may long endure on the land that the L-rd your G-d is assigning you.” The phrase for honor of your father and mother is “kibud av va-eim.” The word kibud  (כבוד), or honor, is related to kaveid (כבד), or heavy. Hashem understand that serving him may at times be big undertaking, but you must do it. 

Nitsavim/Va-yelekh (Deut 29:9-31:30)

Life Cycles

            This week has us reading a double parasha of Nitsavim and Va-yelekh. It covers Moses preparing for his death and for Joshua to take over as the new leader. Moses accepts that he won’t be entering the Promised Land with grace, realizing the blessings he has already seen and experienced and that life goes on.

            So, too, does Judaism revolve cyclically. Calendar-wise, our holidays bring joy, remembrance, and renewal. For each of us, from baby-naming to bnai mitzvah to keeping mitzvot in life and to our deaths, there is the Jewish life cycle. Rather than curse when something doesn’t go as planned, sing a song of praise as Moses did.

Ki Tavo' (Deut. 26:1-29:8)

In It to Win It

            This week’s parasha is Ki Tavo’. I chose to hone in on the verse Deuteronomy 27:9, which states “Moses and the levitical priests spoke to all Israel saying, “Silence! Hear, O Israel! Today you have become the people of the L-rd your G-d.” Other translations have it beginning as “Attend and hear, O Israel.” One may think that just by being somewhere you’ll hear the speaker’s message. If that was true, standing in a garage would make you a car. I feel that it is saying “Attend” meaning hear with your heart and mind, as well as your ears. We must do the same in a facets of life, in order to be compassionate and understanding children of Hashem.