Magazine Archives

ב"ה

Va'Etchanan 5759

PARSHA SUMMARY
Va'Etchanan

I pleaded with G-d, to let me, cross the Jordan and see the land. But G-d said to me, Climb to the summit, and look around, see it, for you will not enter. "Instruct Joshua, strengthen him... since he will lead the people to the land."

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ADVANCED STUDY
Surrounded By Inner Light

To understand what the unique virtue of the Second Temple was, we must first see the way in which a Temple as such went beyond the Tabernacle that accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness.

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INSIGHT
Begging For Comfort

The essential bond between Israel and G-d is fully intact at the very beginning of these seven weeks. It is there, in its wholeness, right after Tisha Be'Av and the preceding 3 weeks of mourning. Indeed, this bond between the very essence of the soul and the very essence of G-d, is noted precisely at that low-point of galut.

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Last week's selection

ABOUT 9 B'AV
The fast begins Wednesday evening, July 21

The presence of this Fast on the Jewish calendar indicates the belief and hope that our current situation, however comfortable it might be on a personal level, is not permanent.

A Way Of Becoming

In the morning, on the rising, the hands should be washed in the traditional way: pouring three times alternately on the fingers only of each hand.

The Laws Of 9 B’Av

The ninth day of Av commemorates five dreadful calamities which befell our people at different times.

The Fast Of Tisha B’Av

A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children Refused to be comforted . . .

The Voice In Ramah

CHILDREN
The Old Man, The Emperor, And The Figs

The wicked roman Emperor Hadrian was not lacking a sense of humor, though it was rather a brutish sort. The story we are going to tell you here is both interesting and instructive, for it shows that envy can lead to disastrous consequences...