by Shlomo Ressler | Aug 2, 2017 | 5:2-Parshat Va'etchanan, Devarim / Deuteronomy, Weekly Dvar
Parshat Vaetchanan begins with Moshe pleading to be able to enter Israel. The Gemara (tractate) brings a question posed by Rav Simlai, who wonders why Moshe needed to go into Israel so much that he had to beg for it. He answers that there are many Mitzvot...
by Shlomo Ressler | Aug 17, 2016 | 5:2-Parshat Va'etchanan, Devarim / Deuteronomy, Weekly Dvar
Perhaps the most famous sentence in the Torah is found in this week’s Torah portion – “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Interestingly, the last letter of the Hebrew word for “Hear” (Shema) is...
by Shlomo Ressler | Jul 29, 2015 | 5:2-Parshat Va'etchanan, Devarim / Deuteronomy, Weekly Dvar
Parshat Vaetchanan begins with Moshe pleading to be able to enter Israel. The Gemara (tractate) brings a question posed by Rav Simlai, who wonders why Moshe needed to go into Israel so much that he had to beg for it. He answers that there are many Mitzvot...
by Shlomo Ressler | Aug 8, 2014 | 5:2-Parshat Va'etchanan, Devarim / Deuteronomy
Aliya Summary: The Israelites are directed to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan along with their idols, and the prohibition against intermarriage is discussed. Finally, Moshe tells the People that the nations in Eretz Yisrael whom we will encounter are mightier than...
by Shlomo Ressler | Aug 8, 2014 | 5:2-Parshat Va'etchanan, Devarim / Deuteronomy
From chabad.org and ou.org: This Aliya begins with the first section of the Shema prayer. This paragraph contains the fundamental mitzvot of belief in G‑d’s unity, love of G‑d, tefillin, mezuzah, and Torah study (see previous blog for more color on this). The...
by Shlomo Ressler | Aug 7, 2014 | 5:2-Parshat Va'etchanan, Devarim / Deuteronomy
Aliya Summary: Moshe describes the fright which gripped the nation following the revelation on Sinai. The leaders of the tribes approached Moshe and pleaded that he be the intermediary to transmit G-d’s words to them, and G‑d agreed. Twice in this Aliya it...
