Volume 26 Issue 22 04 Aug 2017 12 Av 5777

Student Devar Torah

Devar Torah – VaEtchanan

Jade Reuveny – Year 11

In this week’s parashah, Moshe continues his attempt to stress upon the Israelites the importance of following God’s mitsvot; the rewards that will result upon obeying God’s commandments and the punishments they will incur if they neglect to do so. Moshe recounts the Aseret HaDibrot and shares the message of what has become our Shema prayer, making this is a very important and pivotal parashah in our tradition. But let’s break it down.

Moshe relates how he pleaded with God to allow him to enter Israel (which he was denied after becoming embittered with the thirsty Israelites and angrily hit the rock). To his dismay, Moshe’s plea is rejected, and instead he is instructed to climb a mountain from where he would be able to see the Promised Land. He instructs the people to follow God’s law and to never add or detract from it.

As he looks upon the Promised Land, he reflects upon the reasons as to why he is unable to enjoy such beauty. Like in Primary, when you would disregard the whole ‘no hat no play’ rule in a bid to initiate a revolution, only to find yourself sitting in the Reflection Room, next to the teacher on playground duty, or outside Mr Pallo’s office. It is inferred that Moshe shared similar feelings of regret. But when seen in a different light, the Israelites probably wouldn’t have had such motivation to abide by God’s commandments, if Moshe hadn’t been punished in this way.

Now, regardless of whether you do or don’t believe in the historicity of these events, it is easy to understand and apply this scenario into our own lives. When we are denied or rejected what we wish, we always encourage others to abide by the rules, as we know first-hand what you can miss out on if you disobey them. It’s like when you reminded your friends on your way to Waxman Dr, before having a mad game of handball, to put their hat on because sitting next to the teacher on duty is just not as good as getting into kings and being reigning champion.

For Moshe, looking into the Promised Land made him want to impress the words of God onto the mind, spirit and being of the Israelites whilst also praising its wisdom, righteous, fair teachings, and the closeness to God it affords. He reminds the Israelites to continue to recount the time they were given the Torah as well as focusing on the divine revelation, reminding the Israelites that God does not appear in any image or form, but is rather a part of everything we might experience in our world.

Moshe designates 6 cities of refuge, providing protection for individuals who inadvertently kill someone, enforcing the divide between people who willfully disobey the laws and commandments God sets for them and those who accidentally do so. Moshe, as noted, recites the Aseret HaDibrot, reminding the Israelites that the covenant made on Mount Sinai includes them and is not limited to only those who were physically present at the mountain.

As our term as Jewish Life Madrichim begins, we don’t wish to impact only the current students of our School, but hopefully leave a legacy of an enriched Jewish experience, thus impacting generations of future Emanuel students, much like the commandments have been remembered in the past and are to be observed for future generations of our people.

Moshe could not lead if it wasn’t for the Israelites’ constant devotion to the teachings he shared as well as their willingness to impart the ways of Torah, together leaving a legacy for future generations of our Jewish people. We, as Jewish Life Madrichim, likewise, will be unable to lead and fulfill our goals if you are not by our side, willing to take this journey with us.

Help us in making Emanuel a Jewish school, rather than just a school for Jews.

Devar Torah – VaEtchanan

Sonia Redman – Year 11

Of central significance in this week’s parashah is the Shema passage.

The Shema, as we know, has become the centrepiece of the daily morning and evening prayer services and is considered by some as the most essential prayer in all of Judaism. A primary theme of the first verse is the Oneness of God: “Shema, Yisrael, Adonai Eleoheinu, Adonia Echad” – “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One”.

Why is ‘oneness’ so central to Jewish belief? Does it necessarily mean we have to believe in God? Certainly, the Shema can and has been understood to mean that God is a single entity. But there is more than one understanding of this prayer.

There is a ‘new’ approach to this idea for those who maybe do not believe in the God of the Torah, as ‘traditionally’ perceived, but still accept the presence of a force that exists within everything. Reform Rabbi David Nelson explains this, saying: “The oneness of God can now be understood as indicating that everything, is, in a sense, God”. So the phrase “God is one” can mean that God is a term that signifies the unity of existence. So when we say, “The Lord is One”, it could really mean, “the earth, our world, all peoples and all beings are One”, because God is everything.

Another interpretation of the notion of ‘oneness’ is in relation to community. Jewish life revolves around the institutions of home and community. Biblical and modern history demonstrates that Jewish unity and oneness has brought security and fulfillment to the Jewish people. We have seen this through the uniting of Jews around the world despite persecution and oppression, and we experience it in our own lives perhaps through connecting with family for Shabbat

We could also read the Shema as referring to ‘oneness’ in the sense that it celebrates equality. Human life and its protection stands at the centre of our religion, and no matter what race, gender, sexuality one may be, all life is of equal value, and so we are all one. So a new interpretation of the words could be, “Hear O Israel, Humanity is One, the World is One”.

Ultimately, our relationship with God is personal. No matter our connection to the Shema, one thing is clear – this prayer celebrates our unity as a Jewish people, a unity that embraces and contains our diversity and that connects all things to each other.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KQLOuIKaRA