Parshat Devarim

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Moses's farewell address begins with a review of the journey from Sinai, the appointment of judges, and the scouts' mission. Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22.

Open Your Hand and Give According to the Need

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 118:4

The Torah recognizes this deeply, and in Sifrei Devarim 118, we get some beautiful guidance on how to actually act on that feeling. The verse tells us, "Therefore, I command you, s...

TorahJudgmentTzedakah (Charity)

Bestowing Gifts on a Freed Servant After Six Years

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 119:1

Take this one from Sifrei Devarim (Deuteronomy 15:13-14). It deals with releasing a Hebrew servant after six years of service, and the obligation to "bestow upon him"—to give him g...

TorahKabbalahAdam & EveCommandments

The Ear-Piercing Ritual of the Slave Who Chose to Stay

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 122:1

We're talking about the law concerning Hebrew slaves. Specifically, what happens when a slave chooses to stay with his master even after his term of service is up. Remember, accord...

TorahAdam & EveKabbalahDivine justice

Where Exactly on the Ear a Servant Is Pierced

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 122:6

The passage we're looking at comes from Sifrei Devarim 122. It’s focused on clarifying exactly where on the ear this piercing should take place. R. Eliezer Yuden Berebbi, a sage kn...

TorahKabbalahAdam & EveWisdom

Gifts for Freed Hebrew Slaves - You Cannot Send Them Empty

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 123:1

The Torah, it turns out, is overflowing with them. Take the laws surrounding freeing Hebrew slaves, for example. We find some fascinating details in Sifrei Devarim, a collection of...

TorahDivine justiceKabbalahLight

Blessings Require Our Effort Not Just Divine Grace

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 124:1

Like winning the lottery. But what if there's more to it? What if we have a role to play? The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal Midrash on the Book of Deuteronomy, tackles this...

Adam & EveTorahMusic & SongSin

Why You Cannot Work or Shear a Firstborn Animal

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 124:5

The passage we're looking at comes from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. It focuses on the verse, "You shall not work with the bech...

TorahHumorCommandmentsKabbalah

Eating the Firstborn Offering Year by Year at the Temple

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 125:1

Sometimes, these little nuggets offer the biggest insights into how our ancestors lived and understood the world. to one. We're looking at Seifrei Devarim 125, which hangs on a ver...

TorahHeresySacrificeAdam & Eve

When Exactly Must You Stop Eating Chametz Before Pesach

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 130:1

(To put it mildly!) We spend weeks cleaning, preparing, and then…bam! A whole new set of guidelines kicks in. Today, let's untangle one of those specific, time-sensitive commandmen...

Adam & EveTorahTempleEgypt

Rabbi Shimon and Adam of Pesach

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 132:4

We're going to explore a passage from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. This passage, number 132, deals with the seem...

Adam & EveTorahTempleRepentance

Building the Sukkah and Waving the Lulav and Etrog

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 140:4

It’s a question that rabbis have been debating for centuries, and it comes to life in a fascinating discussion about two very important observances: building a succah and waving th...

CreationHoly LandHolidays

Shammai Studies Torah

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 143:9

The ancient text of Sifrei Devarim, a commentary on the book of Deuteronomy, sheds some light on this, focusing on the commandment that we shouldn’t appear before God "empty-handed...

TorahPrayerSacrifice

How Judges and Officers Were Appointed at Every Level

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 144:5

It all comes down to a fascinating system of appointments, a hierarchy of leadership that, according to our sages, can all be found hinted at in the book of Deuteronomy (Devarim). ...

TorahJudgmentTribesAdam & Eve

Never Sacrifice a Blemished Animal Before God

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 147:1

Jewish law certainly thinks so! We’re diving into a fascinating little corner of the Sifrei Devarim, specifically section 147, which deals with the rules surrounding sacrifices. No...

TorahTempleRepentanceSacrifice

What Happens If You Offer Sacrifices Out of Order

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 147:3

The ancient rabbis certainly considered the importance of order, especially when it came to sacred rituals. to a fascinating little corner of Jewish law, specifically from Sifrei D...

TorahTempleRepentanceEgypt

Rabbi Yehoshua Studies Torah

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 147:6

Ever stumble upon something that just feels... wrong? Like a violation of an unspoken rule? Well, Jewish tradition grapples with that feeling in some fascinating ways, especially w...

TorahSacrificeAnimalsAdam & Eve

Judging Idolaters - When a Man or Woman Turns to False Gods

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 148:4

The core question revolves around the phrase "a man or a woman" in (Deuteronomy 17:2), which deals with idolatry. Seems straightforward. But the rabbis weren’t ones to take things ...

Noah & FloodTorahJudgment

Five Names Given to Those Who Worship Idols

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 148:6

It wasn't just a difference of opinion, a harmless cultural practice. Oh no. According to them, idolatry was a spiritual cancer, a plague on the soul. Sifrei Devarim, one of the ea...

HeavenNoah & FloodTorahTemple

Elazar and the Torah

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 148:9

The Sifrei Devarim, an ancient Jewish legal commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy, wrestles with this very question. It delves into the prohibition against worshipping other gods, ...

TorahTempleProphecySacrifice

Sanhedrin Receives the Torah

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 152:14

The Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash on the Book of Deuteronomy, touches on some specific examples of legal “disputes” that might arise. It mentions the ordeal of the sotah, the wom...

TorahTempleWisdomHoly Land

The Willful Refusal to Listen and Its Grave Consequences

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 155:1

to a tiny verse from Sefer Devarim, the Book of Deuteronomy, that holds a surprisingly weighty message about those who "wilfully" refuse to listen. The verse in question, Devarim 1...

TorahKabbalahLawDeath

Who May Be King and the Obligation to Choose One

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 157:10

It’s not just about picking someone popular. It’s about belonging, identity, and the very soul of the community. The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Bo...

JosephTorahHoly Land

The King Sits on His Throne and His Kingdom Endures

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 160:1

Sifrei Devarim, that ancient commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy, gives us a fascinating glimpse into this question. It's a short and sweet passage, really, but packed with meani...

TorahKingsDivine justiceDivine throne

Ezra and the Torah

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 160:3

In Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early Jewish legal interpretations, we find a fascinating instruction about writing a Sefer Torah, a Torah scroll. It says, "that he shall write ...

DanielTorahShabbat

Saul Studies Torah

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 162:4

Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash on the book of Deuteronomy, tackles this head-on. It emphasizes the importance of unwavering commitment to mitzvot (commandments). And it's not just...

TorahProphecyHoly Land

The First of Your Corn and the Rules of Priestly Offerings

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 166:1

It's more than just tossing something into the collection plate; it's about intention, quality, and… well, let's just say, no mixing and matching! The book of Devarim, Deuteronomy,...

TorahSacrificePriesthoodKabbalah

Why the Priests Must Stand to Serve Before God

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 167:1

It's easy to imagine the grand spectacle, the soaring prayers, the scent of incense... but what about the physical posture of the priests, the kohanim? Well, a fascinating little d...

TorahPriesthoodAdam & EveHeresy

The Unqualified Death Penalty Means Strangulation

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 178:1

It ends with the rather blunt statement: "then he shall be put to death." Yikes. What exactly does that mean? Well, the Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpr...

TorahDeathKabbalahSefirot

Do Not Hold Back When It Comes to Justice

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 179:1

The verse we're looking at touches on this very struggle. It’s a commentary on (Deuteronomy 19:1), and it’s all about not holding back when it comes to justice. So, what does it ac...

TorahDivine justiceAdam & EveKabbalah

Story of High Priest

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 181:1

The Torah, in the Book of Deuteronomy, actually makes provision for that. It speaks of cities of refuge, places of safety for those who have committed unintentional manslaughter. B...

TorahAdam & EvePriesthoodKabbalah

The Blood Avenger Pursues the Unintentional Killer

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 181:3

We're diving into a corner of Jewish law that deals with accidental manslaughter, and the desperate flight to safety. Specifically, a passage from Sifrei Devarim, a legal commentar...

TorahViolenceAdam & EveDivine justice

How Long Does It Take for Someone to Become a Foe

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 182:1

Our tradition actually has something to say about that – about how long it takes for someone to become a "foe." And it's surprisingly specific. The Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash ...

TorahHumorDivine justiceHeresy

Abba Shaul Receives the Torah

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 183:1

We’re diving into a seemingly minor verse in Sefer Devarim, the Book of Deuteronomy, to uncover some surprisingly weighty ideas. Specifically, we're looking at (Deuteronomy 19:5). ...

TorahAdam & EveDivine justiceHeresy

Rebbi and the Torah

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 183:5

Jewish tradition grapples with that very idea, especially when it comes to accidental death and the complex concepts of justice, responsibility, and redemption. to a fascinating pa...

TorahExileDeath

How Hatred Escalates from Insult to Bloodshed

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 187:1

Our tradition certainly thinks so. This idea is explored powerfully in Sifrei Devarim, the ancient commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy. It uses a seemingly simple verse about man...

TorahSoulJudgment

Moving Your Neighbor's Boundary Marker Is a Double Sin

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 188:1

Deuteronomy, or Devarim, is the fifth book of the Torah, and it’s full of instructions on how to live a just and righteous life. In Devarim 19:14, we read a seemingly simple prohib...

TorahNoah & FloodCommandmentsDivine justice

Boundary Laws in the Holy Land and Beyond

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 188:3

Jewish tradition places immense value on that, and it's reflected in some fascinating laws about boundaries. Not just physical boundaries, but also intellectual and even spiritual ...

SolomonTorahKabbalahWisdom

Two Witnesses Are Required to Establish the Truth

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 188:11

Our focus is on the verse in Deuteronomy (19:15) that states, "By word of two witnesses, or by word of three witnesses, shall a thing be established." Sounds simple enough. But wha...

TorahHumorWomen of the BibleHeresy

Two Men Must Stand Before God in Court

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 190:1

It takes the process of justice very seriously. And even something as simple as standing takes on a deeper meaning.Specifically, (Deuteronomy 19:17), which states, "Then the two me...

TorahDivine justiceLawAdam & Eve

Does the Two Men Rule Apply to Women Too

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 190:4

It's fascinating to dive in and see how these scholars reasoned. Let's unpack a curious little piece from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deute...

TorahWomen of the BibleHumorKabbalah

Rabbi Yossi Haglili on Proportional Retaliation

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 190:13

It's more complex and nuanced than you might think. We often hear about it as a straightforward principle: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. But what happens when the scales ...

TorahJudgmentDivine justiceHumor

God Who Was with You in the Desert Goes with You to War

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 193:1

It offers a powerful promise – and a comforting thought. It's Devarim 20:4. And it says: "For it is the L-rd your G-d who goes with you to do battle with your foes." Simple. But pa...

TorahHumorWarKabbalah

Military Exemptions for Those Who Built but Never Lived In

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 194:4

It turns out, quite a bit. to a fascinating little corner of Jewish law that deals with exactly this scenario. We're turning to Sifrei Devarim, specifically section 194. Sifrei Dev...

TorahWarKabbalahAdam & Eve

Rabbi Eliezer's Legacy

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 195:4

It's like peeling back layers of an onion, each layer revealing a new nuance, a deeper understanding. Our journey begins in Sifrei Devarim 195, a collection of legal interpretation...

MatriarchsWisdomKabbalahTorah

The Man Who Fears War Because of His Own Sins

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 197:3

In the Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim), specifically Sifrei Devarim 197, we find a fascinating passage about who is exempt from going to war. It’s not just the obvious cases – the ne...

JosephTorahWarHeroism

Optional Wars Versus Obligatory Wars in Jewish Law

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 199:1

Specifically, we're looking at (Deuteronomy 20:10): "If you draw near to a city…" Seems simple enough. But it’s what this verse implies that really gets interesting. The rabbis of ...

TorahWarAdam & EveKings

God Himself in the Days of Moses

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 199:5

Isn't it wild to think about peace even in the middle of war? We often think of them as opposites, but Jewish tradition sees a deep connection, a need for peace that permeates ever...

MosesTemplePrayerMiracles

When a City Answers for Peace in the Laws of Warfare

Other Texts Sifrei Devarim 200:1

Our tradition is acutely aware of this danger, especially when it comes to making peace. We see this in a fascinatingly precise reading of a verse in Sefer Devarim, the Book of Deu...

TorahWarKabbalahHumor