Weekly Parsha

Refuah Sheimah: Erick (Ezra) ben Hanna Miriam, Yehuda Baruch ben Sarah, Stephen Waczkiewicz (Shimon ben Sarah), Yossefa (Josie) "bat Sharon", Rafael ben Gladis e Esther Bracha "bat Sarah".

Continue praying for: Teddy Welz, Miriam (Mariana) "bat Zulay", Adina (Heidi) "bat Sarah" e Yosefa (Josie) "bat Sharon".

Va'etchanan

Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Moshe pleads with G-d to enter the Holy Land, but is turned down.  (Remember, G-d always answers your prayers -- sometimes with a "yes," sometimes with a "no" ... and sometimes with a "not yet".)  Moshe commands the Children of Israel not to add or subtract from the words of the Torah and to keep all of the Commandments.  He then reminds them that G-d has no shape or form and that we should not make or worship idols of any kind.

The cities of Bezer, Ramot and Golan are designated as Cities of Refuge east of the Jordan river.  Accidental murderers can escape there to avoid revengeful relatives.  They then await there until tried.

The Ten Commandments are repeated to the whole Jewish people.  Moshe then expounds the Shema, affirming the unity of G-d, Whom all should love and transmit His commandments to the next generation.  A man should wear Tefillin upon the arm and head.  All Jews should put a Mezuzah (the scroll is the essential part) upon each doorpost of their home (except the bathroom).

Moshe then relays the Almighty's command not to intermarry "for they will lead your children away from Me" (Deut. 7:3-4).

"When you beget children and grandchildren and will become old in the Land, you will grow corrupt and make an idol, the image of anything, and you will do evil in the eyes of the Almighty, your G-d, to anger Him" (Deut. 4:39).

How does having children and grandchildren lead to becoming corrupt and doing evil? 

Shouldn't a person always be grateful for what the Almighty has given him?

The answer lies in the Hebrew word, venoshantem, "becoming old."  If one becomes accustomed to what he has, then he no longer appreciates it.  If he no longer appreciates it, he no longer feels a sense of gratitude to the Almighty.  And without a sense of gratitude, a person will not only neglect his obligations to G-d, but can turn against Him.

The same principle applies in our relationships with our fellow human beings.  Therefore, we must always focus anew upon our possessions and the favors we have received.  Each day look at your possessions as if you just received them that very day.  This will ensure gratitude.  This will enhance our lives and those around us!

Honesty without compassion is cruelty.

Shabbat Shalom!

R Ovadiah Tank

Online Learning

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Rabbi Tank is a professor at the American Jewish College, where he teaches classes on Talmud, Jewish History, and Contemporary Jewish Law. Rabbi Tank is dedicated to finding modern utility and meaning in ancient wisdom texts and is pleased to provide spiritual, cultural, social and educational programming to communities around the world. 

Rabbi Tank was educated at Yeshivas in New York and Miami. He studied Biblical Archeology at Bar Ilan University and Jewish Studies at Harvard University. Rabbi Tank has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and he is also graduated in International Economic Development from the University of Oxford. 

Rabbi Tank Tank is a Jewish Chaplain actively involved in peace negotiations and relief operations. Rabbi Tank is the director of international affairs at the World Jewish Confederation headquarters in New York and He is member of the White House National Religious Leaders , an Executive Office of the President of the United States in Washington, D.C.

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