“See I have placed before you today blessing and curses. The blessing is when you listen to the commandments of the Almighty which I have commanded you today.” Deuteronomy Chapter 11, Verse 26 & 27  The book of Devarim, Moses’ valedictory speech to the Jewish people is known as Mishna Torah – a repeat.  Moses is about to leave this world and he delivers his parting words of wisdom. REPEATING and summarising the entire Torah. What is interesting – he waits three portions DEVARIM – VAESCHANAN – EIKEV – before getting in to the finer details of the commandments! Why...

STRANGERS IN OUR MIDST One of the core commandments of Jewish Ethics is expressed in the verse in this week’s parasha: “Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Devarim 10:19) The medieval work on the Mitzvot, the Sefer HaChinuch, explains that this commandment extends to our supporting refugees who are displaced in a foreign land and find themselves without means of support. We can look at this from another angle to include those amongst us, previously active and healthy, and now find themselves terminally ill. They can feel psychologically estranged from their family and community,...

HUMILITY Both Richard Branson in his Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos in his Blue Shepherd have commented on the awesome experience of being up in space, looking down at earth. “Nothing could prepare you for the view of Earth from space,” said Branson. “It is one thing to recognise it intellectually,” said Bezos. “It is another to actually see it with your own eyes.” Indeed this has been the reaction of every astronaut before them. They are awestruck and overcome with a sense of humility as to who we are and our place in the universe. Yet, 2500 years ago,...

REACHING OUT This coming Motzaei Shabbat, Saturday night, is Tisha B’Av, the fast of the 9th Av. After the Maariv service, we will read the book of Eicha, Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah’s lament for the destruction of the Temple and the exile of our people. The book begins with the words, Eicha Yashva Vadad, “How is it, that the city, once so full of people, dwells alone?” What does this phrase, “dwells alone” mean? It could mean that the city, once bustling with people, is now deathly silent, as its inhabitants are in exile. Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz, the one-time head...