Nitzavim means “you stand” and it begins with more warnings for the price of disobedience. This is literally the beginning of the end of Israelite wandering and Moshe’s own life, so it is critical that every opportunity be taken to explain Israel’s responsibilities to them. This is an abnormally short …

Ki Tavo means “when you enter” and begins with a variety of agricultural regulations that take effect once Israel has entered Canaan. Other regulations, such as that of tithing, are further instituted in the 26th chapter. 26 also contains a veiled rebuke from Moshe to the previous generation as he …

Ki Teze means “when you go out” as in terms of when Israel confronts her enemies on the battlefield. One main war regulation is given at the start, and that is what to do with a woman taken captive from the nations that a Jewish man wants to make a …

Shoftim means “judges” and Deuteronomy 16:18 begins with the command to appoint them. The Torah had suggested that these courts had to be established to resolve general disputes (Exodus 21:22, 22:8) but only here do we find the specific command to set these courts up in every city, probably because …

Re’eh means “see,” and it begins with that great summary of the covenant: I set aside two ways for you, blessing and cursing, life and death. Shortly afterwards, a number of regulations about the place for Abba YHWH’s Name—Yerushalayim though no one other than Abba YHWH knows that yet—are given. …

“Ekev” means “because” or “if only.” Following the theme of last week’s parsha of Va’etchanan, Moshe continues his urgent pleas to this current generation to realize that they are honor-bound to continue in the covenant originally granted to their fathers and that they, in a limited sense, share blame with …

Va’etchanan means “and I pleaded” or “and I asked for favor/mercy.” This is Moshe pleading with Abba YHWH one last time to ask to be allowed to enter into the Promised Land. Abba YHWH though utterly refuses and says, “Speak to Me no more on this matter”! After an extensive …

Devarim means “the words” and as the book opens we enter the last day of Moshe’s life. Moshe begins the book by recapping the details of the last 40 years. The portion ends with Moshe reminding Israel of the times that Abba YHWH fought for them. Now that the evil …

Mattot means “the tribes,” but also has very interesting secondary meanings of “staff, scepter, rod, branch,” all of which seem relevant here. The portion opens with a discussion on the need to fulfill valid oaths to Abba YHWH to the letter-valid meaning that the oath is not contradictory to Abba …

Pinchas refers to the man whose righteous example of purging evil from Israel’s ranks moved Abba YHWH to stop a plague that would have otherwise destroyed all Israel. More than that, the portion starts with Pinchas getting a particularly high honor from Abba YHWH, the covenant of peace that rests …

In the opening lines we find that Jacob may have the power to command, or at the very least persuade, heavenly messengers to do his will. Then, before we can even catch our breath, we find that Esau is coming to his little family reunion with 400 friends and yet …

Showdown! He conned his father. He conspired with his mother. And then, he cheated his brother. Jacob has been used to being “the smartest guy in the room” but this week, he’s about to meet his match in the formidable Laban. And this time, it’s not just about birthrights, blessings …

Brother betrays brother and revenge is plotted by a powerful archer. Vital secrets are concealed for decades. Murder is threatened. It’s the story of Isaac and Jacob, and their struggles are just getting started. Find out what is at the heart of the most famous family in human history. Will …

A righteous man who finally completed his long quest loses the love of his life. He wants to bury her but if he takes a sweetheart deal he might just end up creating an international incident. And a servant is sent on a dangerous mission to a people he never …

Talk about family problems! This week Abraham seems to have enough worries with his kindred to fill an entire lifetime. First he has to attempt to negotiate with his Heavenly Father to try and spare Sodom, where his nephew Lot is living. When the “auction of souls”–going from 50 righteous …

First He created the physical universe and the entire human race. Then Father Yah wiped out nearly everyone in a devastating Flood He promised would never happen again. And now, our Heavenly Father has waited ten whole generations for one man after His heart to be born, and his name …

It’s the worst day ever for the human race–a day like no other when the world of humanity is destroyed in a devastating global flood that is so bad Father Yah promises never to do it again. But Noah’s flood is about so much more, as this year long disaster …

Welcome back to the beginning! What a joy it is to be allowed to hear the Torah all over again from the very start. May this year’s Torah cycle bear much more fruit than what we just completed and I pray you will enjoy the journey as much as I …

Torah 101 will return after Fall Feasts on October 14th with Bereshit!

Welcome to Nitzvaim-Vayelech, where we see how ancient controversies continue to play out in modern rabbinic discourse with the phrase “The Torah is not in heaven” and also connect some deep calendar mysteries shared by Aaron and King David, hidden in the plain sight of the Scripture. Enjoy this last …