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ב"ה

DEVARIM 5759

PARSHA SUMMARY
Devarim

The book of Devarim is also called "Mishna Torah," - repetition of the Torah – before his passing Moses reviews the Torah and recounts the events that transpired to the Israelite people.

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ADVANCED STUDY
Vision In The Dark

In one way, then, the later generation lacked the spiritual immediacy of their forebears. But they were, nonetheless, to reach something unattained by their fathers, who were told: "You have not, as yet, come to the rest and the inheritance which the L-rd your G-d has given to you."

Devarim, in short, tells us of the paradox that through descent comes true uplifting: The highest achievements of the spirit are won in earthly and not heavenly realms.

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INSIGHT
Stages In Giving The Torah

The Fifth Book, Devarim, is different. Devarim means "Words", and the book begins "These are the words which Moses spoke to the Jewish people." In fact, most of this book consists of talks given by Moses, preparing the Jews for the task ahead of them: to enter the Holy Land and live normal lives, guided by the Torah.

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Last week's selection

RENEWAL
Old Czarist Capital Fast Becoming An Ebullient Jewish Center

Sixteen-year-old Freda Soshkolskaya struggles to pinpoint exactly what it is that draws her to the Small Synagogue here every Shabbat. "It's just a feeling that brings me here," she says, coming out of services with a few friends one Shabbat morning.

But Soshkolskaya is far from the only person, young or old, who is finding new religious inspiration in this former Russian capital.

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CHILDREN
The Choice

The girl became hysterical, and could barely speak clearly because of her sobbing. But I was unmoved by her hysterics. I told my wife what happened, and we dragged the girl to the Rav. She continued to insist on her honesty, and protested her innocence.

The Rav ruled that we had brought no real proof of her guilt, but it was up to us to decide if we wished to keep her or not.