* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
1) This week’s parasha (Torah portion), Parashat Shoftim, is the fifth parasha in the Book of Devarim. It continues Moshe Rabbeinu’s parting speech to the people, his personal will for that generation and for all future generations, including our own.
2) This parasha features 41 mitzvot, including the mitzvah of writing a Sefer Torah, the rules of war, the struggle against idol worship, and more.
3) The following are two of the most beautiful and notable passages from this week’s parasha: “Justice, justice you shall pursue,” and “You shall be wholehearted with the Lord, your God.”
4) Following the Torah reading, we read the Haftarah from the words of the prophets. At this time of year, over the course of several weeks, we read a series of Haftarot of Nechama (Consolation), which include the stirring words: “Rouse, rouse yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem… Clothe yourself in splendor; Put on your robes of majesty, Jerusalem, holy city…Arise, shake off the dust…For God will comfort His people, Will redeem Jerusalem.”
5) Finally, this is the first parasha we are reading this year during the month of Elul. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we marked Rosh Chodesh Elul—the start of a month of rectification, growth, and of new beginnings as we head towards the New Year.
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On this week’s parsha, Parshat Shoftim, we focus on a particular verse that can help us through this challenging week: “Tamim Tihiyeh Im Hashem Elokecha”—that we become wholehearted, blameless, innocent before God. At the funeral of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Sivan explains, we had an opportunity to see this command in action. In their eulogies, Hersh’s parents praised God for gifting them their son. They thanked the nation of Israel for supporting them through their battle to bring him home. They asked Hersh to shine his light on them from above. Wondering how to take action in light of tragedy? To help support the families of the hostages? To become innocent before God, and to do so in this holy month of Elul? Tune in to find out. h
הפודקאסט השבועי באנגלית
Weekly Shiur in Hebrew
