by Shlomo Ressler | Aug 29, 2023 | 5:7-Parshat Ki Tavo, Devarim / Deuteronomy, Weekly Dvar
The Jewish people are divided, with six tribes representing blessings on one mountain (Gerizim) and the remaining six representing curses on another (Eval) (27:12-13). Why did the people have to be divided such that half of them represented curses? Wouldn’t it have...
by Shlomo Ressler | Aug 24, 2023 | 5:6-Parshat Ki Tetzei, Devarim / Deuteronomy, Weekly Dvar
Parashas Ki Tetzei contains many laws, including the one to erase the memory of Amalek because of what they did to the Jews on our way out of Egypt (25:17–19). Because Amalek no longer exists as a nation, the only reason we are to speak of them now is because the...
by Shlomo Ressler | Aug 3, 2023 | 5:3-Parshat Ekev, Devarim / Deuteronomy, Weekly Dvar
Moshe warns the people to beware to not forget G-d and not keep His commandments because G-d took us out of Egypt and cared for us in the desert (8:11,14–15). Moshe warns that the very thought that the might of our hands is what accumulated our wealth...
by Shlomo Ressler | Jul 27, 2023 | 5:2-Parshat Va'etchanan, Devarim / Deuteronomy, Weekly Dvar
Moshe recounts the Jewish people’s feeling apprehensive and overwhelmed by G-d’s Presence at Har Sinai (Mount Sinai), thus asking Moshe to receive the Torah on their behalf. G-d acquiesced, saying, “I wish that their hearts were theirs to fear Me and to keep My...
by Shlomo Ressler | Jul 19, 2023 | 5:1-Parshat Devarim, Devarim / Deuteronomy, Weekly Dvar
Moshe addresses the tribes of Reuven and Gad, imploring them to fight for their brothers in Israel before settling down across the Jordan (3:18). However, Moshe does not address just the two tribes in question but uses the word “etchem,” which includes all the tribes....
