Nitzavim/Vayelech - Day #6

Nitzavim - Vayelech  

Torah Portion;

Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

Deuteronomy 31:14-19

31:14 Hashem said to Moses, “Behold, your days approach that you must die. Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may commission him.” Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.

15 Hashem appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood over the Tent’s door. 16 Hashem said to Moses, “Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers. This people will rise up and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land where they go to be among them, and will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say in that day, ‘Haven’t these evils come on us because our Elohim is not among us?’ 18 I will surely hide My face in that day for all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.

19 “Now therefore write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.

Today’s Meditation:

Verse 17 carries strong discipline: “Then My anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them.” Hashem prophesies that after the people begin living in the land, they will turn from Him and follow other gods. They will be influenced by the people and tempted to live a life outside of Hashem. How does Hashem react to this? He simply leaves them. He forsakes them and hides His face. Kind of like now. When we sin, we are separated from Hashem. He is no longer with us. Not until we teshuvah. We turn completely from our sin, we repent, and we make restitution. After sinning and repentance, we must fully return to Hashem. Not just a part of us but all of us. He is serious when He tells us to love Him with “all your heart, soul, and strength”. Remember all this the next time you consider sinning. Remember the cost. And stop in your tracks. Try to pray each day for Hashem to give you strength to withstand temptation.

Today’s Challenge:

Joshua and Moses met Hashem in the Tent of the Meeting (the Tabernacle). Hashem appears in a pillar of cloud. I believe this is because the cloud, in a special way, hid His presence from them so that they wouldn’t die. No one can see Elohim. That is a fact. But here is my challenge for you today. For you and for me. Let’s search for the cloud that Hashem has revealed to us. This cloud could be found through worship, prayer, and service. It may not look like a cloud, but He does present Himself to us in many ways. I see Him work miracles in my life every day. Some small, some large. Just take the time to look for Him. You may be surprised by how often He shows up throughout your day.

Ki Tavo - Day #6

Ki Tavo כִּי-תָבוֹא - When You Enter In  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Deuteronomy 28:7–69

28:7 Hashem will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck before you. They will come out against you one way, and will flee before you seven ways. 8 Hashem will command the blessing on you in your barns, and in all that you put your hand to. He will bless you in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you. 9 Hashem will establish you for a holy people to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you shall keep the commandments of Hashem your Elohim and walk in His ways. 10 All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by Hashem’s name, and they will be afraid of you. 11 Hashem will grant you abundant prosperity in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which Hashem swore to your fathers to give you. 12 Hashem will open to you His good treasure in the sky, to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You will lend to many nations, and you will not borrow. 13 Hashem will make you the head, and not the tail. You will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Hashem your Elohim, which I command you today, to observe and to do, 14 and shall not turn away from any of the words which I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

15 But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come on you and overtake you. 16 You will be cursed in the city, and you will be cursed in the field. 17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. 18 The fruit of your body, the fruit of your ground, the increase of your livestock, and the young of your flock will be cursed. 19 You will be cursed when you come in, and you will be cursed when you go out. 20 Hashem will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you put your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the evil of your doings, by which you have forsaken me. 21 Hashem will make the pestilence cling to you, until He has consumed you from off the land where you go in to possess it. 22 Hashem will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with fiery heat, with the sword, with blight, and with mildew. They will pursue you until you perish. 23 Your sky that is over your head will be bronze, and the earth that is under you will be iron. 24 Hashem will make the rain of your land powder and dust. It will come down on you from the sky, until you are destroyed. 25 Hashem will cause you to be struck before your enemies. You will go out one way against them, and will flee seven ways before them. You will be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 Your dead bodies will be food to all birds of the sky, and to the animals of the earth; and there will be no one to frighten them away. 27 Hashem will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with the tumors, with the scurvy, and with the itch, of which you can not be healed. 28 Hashem will strike you with madness, with blindness, and with astonishment of heart. 29 You will grope at noonday, as the blind gropes in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways. You will only be oppressed and robbed always, and there will be no one to save you. 30 You will betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her. You will build a house, and you won’t dwell in it. You will plant a vineyard, and not use its fruit. 31 Your ox will be slain before your eyes, and you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be violently taken away from before your face, and will not be restored to you. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and you will have no one to save you. 32 Your sons and your daughters will be given to another people. Your eyes will look, and fail with longing for them all day long. There will be no power in your hand. 33 A nation that you don’t know will eat the fruit of your ground and all of your work. You will only be oppressed and crushed always, 34 so that the sights that you see with your eyes will drive you mad. 35 Hashem will strike you in the knees and in the legs with a sore boil, of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head. 36 Hashem will bring you, and your king whom you will set over yourselves, to a nation that you have not known, you nor your fathers. There you will serve other gods of wood and stone. 37 You will become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where Hashem will lead you away. 38 You will carry much seed out into the field, and will gather little in, for the locust will consume it. 39 You will plant vineyards and dress them, but you will neither drink of the wine, nor harvest, because worms will eat them. 40 You will have olive trees throughout all your borders, but you won’t anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives will drop off. 41 You will father sons and daughters, but they will not be yours, for they will go into captivity. 42 Locusts will consume all of your trees and the fruit of your ground. 43 The foreigner who is among you will mount up above you higher and higher, and you will come down lower and lower. 44 He will lend to you, and you won’t lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.

45 All these curses will come on you, and will pursue you and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you didn’t listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to keep his commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 They will be for a sign and for a wonder to you and to your offspring forever. 47 Because you didn’t serve Hashem your Elohim with joyfulness and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things; 48 therefore you will serve your enemies whom Hashem sends against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in lack of all things. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49 Hashem will bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flies: a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce facial expressions, that doesn’t respect the elderly, nor show favor to the young. 51 They will eat the fruit of your livestock and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed. They also won’t leave you grain, new wine, oil, the increase of your livestock, or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish. 52 They will besiege you in all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. They will besiege you in all your gates throughout all your land, which Hashem your Elohim has given you. 53 You will eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom Hashem your Elohim has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies will distress you. 54 The man who is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye will be evil toward his brother, toward the wife whom he loves, and toward the remnant of his children whom he has remaining, 55 so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left to him, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye will be evil toward the husband that she loves, toward her son, toward her daughter, 57 toward her young one who comes out from between her feet, and toward her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of all things in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in your gates. 58 If you will not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and fearful name, Hashem your Elohim, 59 then Hashem will make your plagues and the plagues of your offspring fearful, even great plagues, and of long duration, and severe sicknesses, and of long duration. 60 He will bring on you again all the diseases of Egypt, which you were afraid of; and they will cling to you. 61 Also, every sickness and every plague which is not written in the book of this law, Hashem will bring them on you until you are destroyed. 62 You will be left few in number, even though you were as the stars of the sky for multitude, because you didn’t listen to Hashem your Elohim's voice. 63 It will happen that as Hashem rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so Hashem will rejoice over you to cause you to perish and to destroy you. You will be plucked from the land that you are going in to possess. 64 Hashem will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth. There you will serve other gods which you have not known, you nor your fathers, even wood and stone. 65 Among these nations you will find no ease, and there will be no rest for the sole of your foot; but Hashem will give you there a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and pining of soul. 66 Your life will hang in doubt before you. You will be afraid night and day, and will have no assurance of your life. 67 In the morning you will say, “I wish it were evening!” and at evening you will say, “I wish it were morning!” for the fear of your heart which you will fear, and for the sights which your eyes will see. 68 Hashem will bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way of which I told you that you would never see it again. There you will offer yourselves to your enemies for male and female slaves, and nobody will buy you.

Today’s Meditation:

Blessings and curses, that is today’s study. Chapter 28 is known for these. And the contingencies of each are clear. If you follow Him and His commandments, you are blessed. If you don’t, you are cursed. Look at verse 10. Here is a new promise: “All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by Hashem’s name, and they will be afraid of you.” How will they see that you are called by Hashem’s name? I believe that your blessings will be so great, and that you will give all the glory to Hashem, that they will begin to see it is He who gave it all to you. When they come to know the name of Hashem, then they will know it is He who called you. They will connect all the dots. And it will be obvious. That’s how I want to be and live. That I have followed Hashem with such excellence that His blessings will shine in my life and lead others to His name.

Today’s Challenge:

Verse 46 says that Hashem’s commandments and statutes, “They will be for a sign and for a wonder to you and to your offspring forever.” A sign because these commandments are unique only to Torah. And a wonder because they will be wonderful to follow, and the blessings will astonish you. Don’t you want signs and wonders in your life? I do. Let’s commit to following the Torah to the best of our ability, and let’s start doing that today. That is my challenge for you. 

Ki Teitzei - Day #6

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Deuteronomy 24:5–13

24:5 When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army, nor shall he be assigned any business. He shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.

6 No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.

7 If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deals with him as a slave, or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

8 Be careful in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you. As I commanded them, so you shall observe to do. 9 Remember what Hashem your Elohim did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt.

10 When you lend your neighbor any kind of loan, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. 11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge outside to you. 12 If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. 13 You shall surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before Hashem your Elohim.

Today’s Meditation:

Verse 6 is a curious commandment:  “No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.” After some research, it seems that Hashem is saying not to take another's livelihood as collateral (to pay a debt, etc.). To do so would deprive him of his ability to care for himself and his family. And leave him with nothing to sustain his family. Hashem doesn’t want us to do this. That’s how much He loves each of us. It is a protection that prevents someone from losing everything and becoming destitute. Again, one more example of Hashem's protection of the poor. And how we are to be involved with that process.

Today’s Challenge:

We learn today another lesson from Hashem about protecting the husband and wife and their relationship. If you are newly married, you are not required to serve in the army for at least a year. This is so beautiful. Think of how important that first year is in a marriage. How hard would it be to be apart from your new spouse, right after you got married? This is a clear indication that Hashem wants marriages to be good and solid. 

Your challenge today is to look at your own marriage or that of a friend or family member. Have they had time together to solidify their marriage (or have you)? Have they (you) had a special time of at least one year to ground their marriage? If not, take the time to do so now. Or help the couple who have not had that special time do the same. Support marriages in your family and among your friends. 

Shoftim - Day #6

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Deuteronomy 19:14–20:9

19:14 You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set, in your inheritance which you shall inherit, in the land that Hashem your Elohim gives you to possess.

15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established. 16 If an unrighteous witness rises up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17 then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Hashem, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; 18 and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother, 19 then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother. So you shall remove the evil from among you. 20 Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and will never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eyes shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

20:1 When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Hashem your Elohim iis with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2 It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people, 3 and shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, nor be scared of them; 4 for Hashem your Elohim is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

5 The officers shall speak to the people, saying, “What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 6 What man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not used its fruit? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use his fruit. 7 What man is there who has pledged to be married to a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.” 8 The officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, “What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother’s heart melt as his heart.” 9 It shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall appoint captains of armies at the head of the people.

Today’s Meditation:

Hashem created a fair and just judicial system and commandments. His people know how to utilize this. In verse 20, we read why Hashem is very strict about disobedience to His laws: “Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and will never again commit any such evil among you.” He is setting an example for others. It’s one thing to tell a child the consequences of disobedience, but when the punishment is enacted, it is clear to the child and his/her siblings how severe disobeying is. It shows everyone what will happen if we do not follow Hashem’s instructions. We know for sure that Hashem loves all of His creation, but it is also clear that He wants the people who follow Him to be dedicated and loyal servants. He is explaining the way to accomplish this. It may seem harsh, but sometimes harshness is the only way people will listen.

Today’s Challenge: 

What a wonderful testimony and promise in verse 20:1, “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Hashem your Elohim is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Hashem’s people were about ready to enter the land of Israel. A place that they had never been before. A land filled with people who followed false gods. As He lays out the plan to inhabit this land, He makes a promise to be with them every step of the way. When Hashem calls us to new places and new plans, it can be very scary. Here is a strong promise that when we see problems that feel really big and impossible, we need to seek His face and ask Him for guidance and protection. If you are facing a giant today, ponder this particular verse. Try to believe that Hashem will be with you through it all. Try to have faith that Hashem will go to battle for you.

Re'eh - Day #6

Re'eh רְאֵה - See!  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Deuteronomy 15:1–18

15:1 At the end of every seven years, you shall cancel debts. 2 This is the way it shall be done: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not require payment from his neighbor and his brother, because Hashem’s release has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner, you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release. 4 However, there will be no poor with you (for Hashem will surely bless you in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance to possess) 5 if only you diligently listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you today. 6 For Hashem your Elohim will bless you, as He promised you. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. 7 If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Hashem your Elohim gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother; 8 but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks. 9 Beware that there not be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, “The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,” and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing; and he cry to Hashem against you, and it be sin to you. 10 You shall surely give, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because it is for this thing Hashem your Elohim will bless you in all your work and in all that you put your hand to. 11 For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore, I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. 12 If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty. 14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press. As Hashem your Elohim has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Hashem your Elohim redeemed you. Therefore, I command you this thing today. 16 It shall be, if he tells you, “I will not go out from you,” because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you, 17 then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also, to your female servant, you shall do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for he has been double the value of a hired hand as he served you six years. Hashem, your Elohim, will bless you in all that you do.

Today’s Meditation:

 

Fairness in slavery? That seems odd to us today. Slavery, the way Hashem describes it, is far from what has happened in Europe and America and the atrocities they inflicted upon others. What Hashem is saying is that at the end of seven years, a slave has a choice to stay or leave. What we need to think about is that the slave was probably bought because he/she was in poverty. It was like securing a live-in job. I’m sure there were difficult, harsh taskmasters, but that is why Hashem is telling His people to treat people fairly. And give the slaves an opportunity to go free after seven years. I wonder how many slaves were treated so fairly that they decided to stay on permanently. When we are following Hashem’s commands to love Him and to love others, the world literally changes.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 4, Hashem is telling us that if we follow Him in all ways, He will bless the land so much that there will be no poor in it. That people will take care of people. Unfortunately, that is not true today. We have poor and starving people across our world. But the Torah has the remedy, and it is outlined in today’s portion. It’s about taking care of each other, feeding one another, hiring help, sharing, and loving. Sure, there must have been people who took advantage of this situation, from both sides. But Hashem has a perfect plan for a whole and healthy world. Today’s challenge is to find ways to help the poor in your community. And how you can make the world a better place by following Torah’s directions.

Ekev - Day #6

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Deuteronomy 11:10–21

11:10 For the land, where you go in to possess isn’t like the land of Egypt that you came out of, where you sowed your seed and watered it with your foot, as a garden of herbs; 11 but the land that you go over to possess is a land of hills and valleys which drinks water from the rain of the sky, 12 a land which Hashem your Elohim cares for. Hashem, your Elohim’s eyes are always on it, from the beginning of the year, even to the end of the year. 13 It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to My commandments which I command you today, to love Hashem your Elohim, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 that I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. 15 I will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. 16 Be careful, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn away to serve other gods and worship them; 17 and Hashem’s anger be kindled against you, and He shut up the sky so that there is no rain, and the land doesn’t yield its fruit; and you perish quickly from off the good land which Hashem gives you. 18 Therefore, you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates; 21 that your days and your children’s days may be multiplied in the land which Hashem swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

Today’s Meditation:

Do you want to take care of your own property (land) or would you prefer Hashem to care for it? In today's verses 11 and 12, we learn that the Israelites will not have to tend the Land of Israel; Hashem Himself will bring rain from the sky and take care of it. But, there is always a contingency. And that is obedience to His commandments. We read about this in verses 13 and 14, “It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to My commandments which I command you today, to love Hashem your Elohim, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,  that I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.” It is always His agreement with us to obey and be blessed, or disobey and not be blessed. When Adam and Eve did not follow Hashem’s commands in the garden, they were not blessed and had to leave the presence of Elohim. I don’t think we really realize that when we sin, there are consequences. Yes, we repent and make things right, but there will still be a form of punishment or a withdrawal of blessing. If you are reading this, then you have already experienced it.

Today’s Challenge:

The challenge today is to examine your life. Clean up your “garden” and ask Hashem to tend to it now. You could pray something like this, “Hashem, I love you so much. I am very sorry for disobeying your commandment of ___________. Please forgive me. I will try to make things right, but I need your help. Will you please assist me in living the pure and holy life? Will you please teach me your ways? Will you please put mentors and Godly people in my life to associate with? Thank you, Hashem. Amen.” You want His rain in your garden, not water from the well that man has dug.

Va'etchanan - Day #6

Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Deuteronomy 6:4–25

6:4 Hear, Israel: Hashem is our Elohim. Hashem is one. 5 You shall love Hashem your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

10 It shall be, when Hashem your Elohim brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities which you didn’t build, 11 and houses full of all good things which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees which you didn’t plant, and you shall eat and be full; 12 then beware lest you forget Hashem, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear Hashem your Elohim; and you shall serve Him, and shall swear by His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, 15 for Hashem your Elohim among you is a jealous Elohim, lest the anger of Hashem your Elohim be kindled against you, and He destroy you from off the face of the earth. 16 You shall not tempt Hashem your Elohim, as you tempted Him in Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of Hashem your Elohim, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He has commanded you. 18 You shall do that which is right and good in Hashem’s sight, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which Hashem swore to your fathers, 19 to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as Hashem has spoken.

20 When your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What do the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Hashem your Elohim has commanded you, mean?” 21 Then you shall tell your son, “We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. Hashem brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; 22 and Hashem showed great and awesome signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes; 23 and He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land which he swore to our fathers. 24 Hashem commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Hashem your Elohim, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as we are today. 25 It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all these commandments before Hashem your Elohim, as He has commanded us.”

Today’s Meditation:

Today we read the “Shema” (hear). A prayer that is recited several times a day in Judaism, and those of us who have attached to Israel. It is said that Jewish people would want this particular prayer on their lips when they die. It is the heart of Torah. We are to love and obey Hashem with everything we have and place His Torah in our hearts. We are to teach it to our children so it continues on through the generations. We are to know that He is One, that there are no other gods. If we believe this, we will have eternal life. If you haven’t already memorized this prayer in both English and Hebrew, I encourage you to do so today. Put it on a note card by your bed and on your refrigerator, and go over it repeatedly until you have it memorized. Continue to pray it daily. It will remind you who Hashem is and why you serve Him.

Today’s Challenge:

Are you looking for how to be holy and righteous before Hashem? We have the answer in verse 25, “It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all these commandments before Hashem your Elohim, as He has commanded us.” Holiness is obeying His commandments. To not do so is sin and unholiness. How can you say you are not sinning unless you know what sin is? That is why we must learn and study Torah. Yes, many of the commandments do not apply today because we do not have a Temple, and none of us are currently priests. But many of them do apply and direct our lives. That is one reason to go through the portions every day. To learn what sin is and what it is not. Your challenge today is to read and study the Torah portions. Learn Torah and do it, so that you may have life.