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D'VAR TORAH: A LOOK AT THE TORAH PORTION OF THE WEEK

Each week we will share different commentaries on the Torah portion and/or the holiday.

September 24, 2022

NITZAVIM, DEUTERONOMY 29:9-30:20

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September 17, 2022

KI TAVO, DEUTERONOMY 26:1-29:8

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September 10, 2022

KI TEITZEI, DEUTERONOMY 21:10-25:19

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September 3, 2022

SHOFTIM, DEUTERONOMY 16:18-21:9

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August 27, 2022

RE'EH, DEUTERONOMY 11:26-16:17

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August 20, 2022

EIKEV, DEUTERONOMY 7:12-11:25

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August 13, 2022

VA-ET'CHANAN, DEUTERONOMY 3:23-7:11

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August 6, 2022

DEVARIM, DEUTERONOMY 1:1-3:22

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July 30, 2022

MATOT-MASEI, NUMBERS 30:2-36:13

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July 23, 2022

PINCHAS, NUMBERS 25:10-30:1

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July 16, 2022

BALAK, NUMBERS 22:2-25:9

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July 9, 2022

CHUKAT, NUMBERS 19:1-22:1

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July 2, 2022

KORACH, NUMBERS 16:1-18:32

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June 25, 2022

SH'LACH L'CHA, NUMBERS 13:1-15:41

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June 18, 2022

BEHA'ALOTCHA, NUMBERS 8:1-12:16

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June 11, 2022

NASSO, NUMBERS 4:21-7:89

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June 4, 2022

BAMIDBAR, NUMBERS 1:1-4:20

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May 28, 2022

B'CHUKOTAI, LEVITICUS 26:3-27:34

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May 21, 2022

BEHAR, LEVITICUS 25:1-26:2

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May 14, 2022

EMOR, LEVITICUS 21:1-24:23

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May 7, 2022

KEDOSHIM, LEVITICUS 19:1-20:27

 

 

April 30, 2022

ACHREI MOT, LEVITICUS 16:1-18:30

 

In Achrei Mot (After Death), named as such because it focuses on what happens to the Israelites after the death of Aaron’s two sons, Madab and Abihu, we learn of the concept of the “scapegoat.”

 

As described in this parsha, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the High Priest is to take two male goats and by using lots, identify one for God and the other one for Azazel. The goat marked for God is slaughtered as a sin offering and its blood is used to cleanse the Tent of meeting, the altar and the Holy of Holies. Then the High Priest is to confess all of the sins of the Israelites over the second goat and that goat is to be set free in the wilderness. Thus, the original meaning of the expression “scapegoat.”  

 

At the High Holidays, we think about our actions over the past year. Our prayers of repentance at this time are for sings against God.  However, sins against people demand more than just prayer. Maimonides emphasized the need to voice confession to the person(s) we have hurt. Repentance also should not be done in a quick “I’m so sorry,” but must come out of serious soul-searching. According to Maimonides, the true penitent is also someone who commits a sin and is later given the opportunity to commit the exact same sin but chooses not to do so.

 

In contemporary times, is it enough to write “I’m sorry” just on social media and not face to face (whether in-person or by zoom) with the person you have hurt? Does a quick “sorry” immediately after inflicting pain (emotional and/or physical) make one a true penitent? Must, as Maimonides emphasizes, true repentance demand that some length of time must take place during which contemplation has been carried out? These are a few questions to consider as we try to make amends.

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April 9, 2022

METZORA, LEVITICUS 14:1-15:33

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April 2, 2022

TAZRIA, LEVITICUS 12:1-13:59

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March 26, 2022

SH'MINI, LEVITICUS 9:1-11:47

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March 19, 2022

TZAV, LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36

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March 12, 2022

VAYIKRA, LEVITICUS 1:1-5:26

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March 5, 2022

PEKUDEI, EXODUS 38:21-40:38

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February 26, 2022

VAYAKHEL, EXODUS 35:1-38:20​

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February 19, 2022

KI TISA, EXODUS 30:11-34:35

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February 12, 2022

TETZAVEH, EXODUS 27:20-30:10

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February 5, 2022

TERUMAH, EXODUS 25:1-27:19

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January 29, 2022

MISHPATIM, EXODUS 21:1-24:18

 

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January 22, 2022

YITRO, EXODUS 18:1-20:23

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January 15, 2022

BESHALACH, EXODUS 13:17-17:16

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January 8, 2022

BO, EXODUS 10:1-13:16

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January 1, 2022

VA'EIRA, EXODUS 6:2-9:35

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December 25, 2021

SHEMOT, EXODUS 1:1-6:1​

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December 18, 2021

VAYECHI, GENESIS 47:28-50:26

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December 11, 2021

VAYIGASH, GENESIS 44:18-47:27

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December 4, 2021

MIKEITZ, GENESIS 41:1-44:17

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November 27, 2021

VAYESHEV, GENESIS 37:1-40:23

 

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November 20, 2021

VAYISHLACH, GENESIS 32:4-36:43

 

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November 13, 2021

VAYETZEI, GENESIS 28:10-32:3

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November 6, 2021

TOLDOT, GENESIS 25:19-28:9

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October 30, 2021

CHAYEI SARAH, GENESIS 23:1-25:18

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October 23, 2021

VAYERA, GENESIS 18:1-22:24

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October 16, 2021

LECH LECHA, GENESIS 12:1-17:27

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Questions to Consider Yourself Based on this Parsha:

  • How are you a blessing in your life to others?

  • What journey did you go on that had a major impact on your life?

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October 9, 2021

NOACH, GENESIS 6:9-11:32

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October 2, 2021

BERESHIT, GENESIS 1:1-6:8

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September 25, 2021

CHOL HAMOED SUKKOT, EXODUS 33:12-34:26

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September 18, 2021

HA'AZINU, DEUTERONOMY 32:1-32:52

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September 11, 2021

VAYEILECH, DEUTERONOMY 31:1-31:30

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