deuteronomy

July 24, 2015
By bethmordecai
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Parashat D’varim (דברים) — Does God Bring Financial Success?

Parashat D'varim 2015/5775 (Triennial II): Does Financial Success Come From God? Most people know the biblical account of manna from heaven: God provides food from heaven for the Israelites in the form of "manna," a bread like substance that according to rabbinic tradition tastes how you want it to taste. Likewise, the Israelites often stop in the desert for God to give them water. But In the triennial section of this week's Torah portion, we read something different: the Israelites had to PAY the tribe of Esau for food and water (Deuteronomy 2:6)! Because the food and water are no longer "free," does it mean that God does not provide it for them? This does not seem to be the[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : deuteronomy esau God jacob money online learning online parashah class panim yafot parsha ramban rashbam rashi wealth דברים

deuteronomy

August 1, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Parashat D’varim (דברים) — “Many Hands Make Light Work:” The Importance and Challenge of Delegating

Parashat D’varim 2014/5774 (Triennial 1): “Many Hands Make Light Work”:The Importance and Challenge of Delegating In any position of leadership, it is important to be skillful in delegating authority. In this week’s Torah portion as we begin the book of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts how he “cannot bear the burden [of the people of Israel] himself” (Deuteronomy 1:9) and how he set out to delegate responsibility to other chiefs of Israel. This is not the first time that the Torah recounts Moses’ attempt to delegate responsibility (Exodus 18:13-27 and Numbers 11:11-15).  How are these accounts similar to or different from each other? What do each of them uniquely teach[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : d'varim delegating deuteronomy devarim God Jethro leaders leadership moses online learning online parashah class responsibility דברים

deuteronomy

July 12, 2013
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Parashat D’varim (דברים) — Can God Be the Ultimate General?

2013/5773 (Triennial III) -- Can God Be the Ultimate General? In this week's Parashah, we read Moses' retelling of the Israelites' military victories over other peoples of the ancient near east, and directs the Israelites on which peoples they will defeat in the future. Throughout this re-telling, God plays a central role -- it is not the Israelites' decision on which lands to conquer but rather God's decision based on God's promises to other nations on what lands belong to them. In this regard, God is acting like the Ultimate General, deciding what territory belongs to which people.    Can this vision of God as an Ultimate General resonate with us today? Are we in control of our own land or are there other[...]

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : ancient near east d'varim deuteronomy devarim general God israelites online learning online parashah class parasha parashah parsha