We pray every week for the leaders of the Jewish Ministry,
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A must website. To subscribe to our newsletter. To download some resources (Hebrew Sabbath School, and other documents). To order the book “Comfort, Comfort my people…” and many other things. •
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WJAFC Paris
A weekly Journal of information and training published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference —Office of Adventist Mission
Journal of Information and Training — Issue 699— 24 September 2 0 1 6 / 2 1 E l l u l 5 7 7 6
Jael Wells Cuellar English Edition: Richard-Amram Elofer
Richard Amram Elofer
Russian Edition: Alexandra Obrevko French Edition: Sabine Baris Spanish Edition: Jael Wells Cuellar Portuguese Edition: Carlos Muniz Dutch Edition: Hubert Paulleta
Hubert Paulleta 8
Shabbat — Ki-Tavo
Shabbat Shalom Newsletter
Resources:
Carlos Muniz Emails: English: richard@elofer.com Russian: sashok_l@mail.ru French: sabinebaris@gmail.com Spanish: jael_wells@hotmail.com Portuguese: cdmuniz@gmail.com Dutch: hpauletta@hotmail.com
Credit photos: Richard Elofer, Alexandra Obrevko, Jael Wells Cuellar Hubert Paulleta, Laurent Baris and Advent Digital Media
for more information: contact us at www.jewishadventist.org
Alexandra Obrevko
Sabine Baris
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24 September / 21 Ellul 2016 / 5776
This issue
News P.1 Parasha’s comments P.2-4 Haftara P.4-5 Apostolic Writings P.5 Stories P.6 Inspirational Corner P.6,7 Color Sheet for Kids P.7
Weekly Jewish-Adventist Journal of Information
We pray every week for leaders of the Jewish Ministry, according to our list of prayer for 2016, I suggest that we continue Jewish Adventist leaders, thus I invite our partners to pray from September 25 to October 1 for Dr. Reinaldo Sequiera, who is Professor of Old Testament in the Adventist University of Sao Paolo, Brazil, and the director of the Jewish Ministry for the South American Division. Let’s pray for his ministry.
NEWS
Hebrew Sabbath School
v The New Hebrew Sabbath School lesson for the next quarter is available at www. jewishadventist.org.
Rosh-Hashanah
v The New Year will start for the Jewish people on October 3, that means the evening of October 2 will be spent in synagogue, praying and requesting forgiveness for the past year, but also praising G-d who is the Creator and king of the Universe. Rosh-Hashanah is a time when the Jewish people recognize G-d as their king and Judge.
Contextualized Sabbath School in Portuguese
v Everyone who study the Sabbath School in Portuguese will be happy to know that the contextualized Bible Guide is available for our Jewish friends in Portuguese and can be downloaded from http:// adv7.in/BA
Shanah Tovah Happy New Year 5777
“you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there.” (Deuteronomy 26:2)
Parasha for this Week
Ki Tavo
awøbDt_yI;k Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
Parasha Overview
Ki-Tavo
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hen Bnei Yisrael dwell in the Land of Israel, its first fruits are to be taken to the Temple and given to the kohen in a ceremony expressing recognition that it is G-d who guides the history of the Jewish People throughout all ages. This passage forms one of the central parts of the Haggadah that we read at the Passover Seder. On the last day of Pesach of the fourth and seventh years of the seven-year shemita cycle, a person must recite a disclosure stating that he has indeed distributed the tithes to the appropriate people in the prescribed manner. With this mitzvah Moshe concludes the commandments that G-d has told him to give to the Jewish People. Moshe exhorts them to walk in G-d’s ways, because they are set
Don’t only think, Say It…
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he opening passage of Parshat Ki Tavo describes the commandment for a farmer in Israel to bring his first fruits to the Temple and say, “I declare today before G-d that I have come to the land that G-d swore to our forefathers to give us” (Deut 26:3). The farmer then continues to recite a special formulation thanking G-d for His goodness. We understand the special formulation and offering of thanks but why must the farmer preface with stating clearly exactly why he is there? Rashi explains that the purpose of this declaration is to show that the farmer is not unappreciative for the land of Israel. Expressing gratitude through speech is very different than merely feeling or thinking it. This is because although what we think about shapes who we are to a certain extent, what we say forms our identities much more.
First-Fruits and Prayer
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ur parasha contains a description of the ceremony of offering the
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first-fruits as a thanksgiving (for the Jewish people, this law is only valid in the Land of Israel). In my opinion we should offer to G-d our thanksgiving and first-fruits from any land, it was the idea of the American when they instituted their celebration of thanksgiving. This text follows with the prayer that was to be recited by each person as he made his offering “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labor. Then we cried out to the L-rd, the G-d of our fathers, and the L-rd heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the L-rd brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O L-rd, have given me.” (Deut. 26:5-10). This prayer mentions the miracle of our origin “my father was a wandering Aramean” and the second miracle is the Exodus from Egypt “The L-rd brought us out of Egypt”. The NIV has translated that our father
was a “wandering” Aramean, that means a traveler, a nomad, but the Hebrew word “Oved” contains also the meaning of “to perish”, “to destroy”. That is why Rashi translates: “an Aramite destroyed my father” to refer to Laban’s intention to destroy Jacob and hence the whole Jewish nation. Thus the prayer refers to the miracle of the survival of Jacob while he could be assimilated to the people of Laban and the people of Israel would have disappeared, but he survived the manipulations and attempt of Laban to destroy him and his family. Thus bringing of the first-fruits was accompanied by his acknowledgment of G-d’s deliverance in saving the nation from destruction. It is clear that reading the Torah we discover that G-d performed many more miracles than saving Jacob from Laban or Israel from Egypt. But these two miracles are the founding miracles of the people of Israel, they were the two occasions when Israel were threatened of extermination, and including these two events in the prayer allowed Israel to remember what the nations are able to do against G-d’s people. If the Jewish people think that the law of the first-fruits is only valid in the Land of Israel, it is because the text speaks about the “produce from the soil of the land
the L-rd your G-d is giving you” this land is Israel, the land of Canaan and the text says also that we have to bring these first-fruits “to the place the L-RD your G-d will choose as a dwelling for his Name” (Deuteronomy 26:2) that means the place of the Sanctuary during about 400 years and then in the Temple of Jerusalem when the sanctuary was installed in Jerusalem by King David. The question today is to know if the worship place of the Jews and believers in Yeshua are “places chosen by G-d as a dwelling for his name.” For the Jews, only Jerusalem and only when the Temple is built could be considered as this special place. That is why, the Jewish people have even stopped to offer the sacrifices, and to perform all laws related to the Temple. However, this text speaks also about the Tithes: “When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.” (Deuteronomy 26:12). To be consistent with their interpretation of these texts, the Jewish tradition has also said that
since there is no Temple and the Cohanim are not officiating in the Temple in Jerusalem anymore, the law of Tithes is not practiced anymore. But the principle given in this text is still practiced by the Jewish people, this principle is called “Tsedakah” (Justice or Righteouness). The concept of Tsedakah is commonly translated by “Charity”. Thus when we read Rabbinical Jewish story we see a great proportion of them are about giving Tsedadah or Charity: “you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow”, The Levite was mentioned in the same category as the orphans or widows because they did not receive any portion of the Land and their only way to eat and to live a normal life was to receive tithes from Israel.
Declarations
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e read in the Torah “You have declared today that the L-rd is your G-d, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.” (Deuteronomy 26:17). Israel has pledged before the whole world that it would place its fate and its actions under the direction and
guidance of G-d that it would pursue its goals only in the ways indicated for it by G-d. That it would keep and faithfully fulfill His statutes, commandments and ordinances. This declaration is not a declaration about salvation. The Bible does not teach salvation by work or by keeping the law. But Israel is responding in this text to the covenant that G-d set up in front of Israel. They have the intention to keep the commandments of G-d, even though during the history they will make the hard discovery that without G-d it is impossible to please him, and without the Messiah it is impossible to satisfy to the requirement of the Law. But the law will not be concealed even after the coming of Yeshua, that is why Rabbi Shaul says “G-d is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” (Romans 3:29–31.) Every one is justified by faith, Jews and Gentiles. After the declaration of Israel, G-d made his declaration too: “And the L-RD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and
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aside as a treasured people to G-d. When Bnei Yisrael cross the Jordan River they are to make a new commitment to the Torah. Huge stones are to be erected and covered over with a thin layer of plaster, and the Torah is to be written on them. The Jewish tradition, aware of her responsibility to preach the Torah to the world, affirms that the Torah must be written on the stones in the world’s seventy primary languages. Half the tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim, and half on Mount Eval, and the levi’im will stand in a valley between the two mountains. There the levi’im will recite 12 commandments and all the people will answer “amen” to the blessings and the curses. Moshe then details the blessings that will be bestowed upon Bnei Yisrael. These blessings are both physical and spiritual. However if the Jewish People do not keep the Torah, Moshe details a chilling picture of destruction, resulting in exile and wandering among the nations.
Haftara Overview Isaiah 60:1-22
“And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Deuteronomy 26:9)
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his Shabbat is the fifth Shabbat after Tisha B’Av. We are in a period called Shiva D’nechemta—”Seven weeks of comfort.” The seven Haftarot of the weeks between Tish’a B’av and Rosh Hashana are prophesies of comfort and hope for Israel and G-d’s people at large. This text of comfort reminds us the mission of Israel. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the L-RD has risen upon you. ” (Is. 60:1). G-d’s people have to shine and to reflect the glory of the L-rd, which is G-d’s character. Her testimony will bring nations and kings to her and through her to G-d. “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Is. 60:3). However, to see people coming to her she must lift up her eyes and accepts evidences given by the L-rd “Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; ” (Is 60:4). She will shine even more to be “radiant” “Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.” (Is 60:5) Even the Arabic world will come to Israel: “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.” (Is 60:6a) It will bring wealth to her “They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the L-RD.” (Is 60:6b). To comfort Israel, G-d’s prom-
that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the L-rd your G-d, as he promised.” (Deuteronomy 26:18–19) G-d declared here that Israel belongs exclusively to Him, and no other power has dominion over Israel.
Twelve Laws on Mount Garizim and Ebal.
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he Torah states, “Cursed is the man: 1. who carves an image or casts an idol — a thing detestable to the L-rd, the work of the craftsman’s hands — and sets it up in secret… 2. who dishonors his father or his mother… 3. who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone… 4. who leads the blind astray on the road… 5. who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow… 6. who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed… 7. who has sexual relations with any animal… 8. who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother… 9. who sleeps with his mother-in-law… 10. who kills his neighbor secretly… 11. who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person… 12. who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the
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people shall say, “Amen!” ” (Deuteronomy 27:15-26). Most of the believers in Yeshua want to be free from the Torah, they don’t realize that many laws from the Torah are still valid for our every day life. We agree to say that the 10 commandments are still valid —even though most of the Christians keep only 9 commandments, rejecting the 4th one, which commands us to keep the Seventhday Shabbat as holy and as the day of worship. However we don’t have to forget these 12 laws that the priests repeated to the people of Israel when they entered the promise land. These laws are so crucial for the social justice and peace that there is a curse for everyone who break them. G-d asked a personal commitment from his people for each one of these laws that is why when each one of these laws were given, the people had to say “Amen”. In the Torah it is written “Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you,” (Deut 12:28) Every mitzvah is important. In fact, at times it is the “small” mitzvot which make a big difference.
I
Spiritual Perspective
mmediately following the “good news”, “If you will keep all my commandments then you will have abundant
blessing...” (Deut 28:1-14) the Torah launches into a description of what will happen “If we do not listen to the commandments of the L-rd our G-d...” The curses contain the mirror image of the blessings. Rather than being “blessed in the city and blessed in the country, blessed in our coming in and blessed in our going out” we will be “cursed in the city and cursed in the country, cursed in our going in and cursed in our going out”. The Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel translates the pasuk (verse) “Cursed will you be when you come in and cursed will you be when you go out” (28:19) as follows: “You will be cursed when you come in” means “you will be cursed when you come into the theaters and when you come into the circuses” because you wasted your time on frivolous entertainment rather than spending it learning Torah.” “You will be cursed when you go out” as “you will be cursed when you go out to make a living”. Rav Pam asks, what is wrong with making a living? A believer needs to support his family and earn a living. A person must earn a living. However, he must have the attitude that whenever he has the opportunity to do so, he wants to use his time wisely from a spiritual perspective studying the Bible.
Apostolic Writings — 1 Corinthians 15:1-58
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he parasha for this week starts with the mitzvah of the firstfruits, “When you come into the land that the L-rd your G-d is giving you … you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, … and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the L-rd your G-d will choose…” (Deuteronomy 26:1–2). This mitzvah is so important for the L-rd that he repeated it on the feast which is celebrated right after Pesach, Moshe said, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, when you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the L-rd, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” (Leviticus 23:9–11). Let’s remember the context of this text of Leviticus 23, this chapter is the description of the feasts G-d has given to Israel. After reminding the celebration of the Shabbat, Moshe describes Pesach which must be celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Nissan (5-8). Thus come the verse 9 to 11 which speak of the 2nd day of the feast (the day after the Sabbath), I don’t want to enter here in the discussion of the Sab-bath day of Passover (is it the first day of Passover or the Seventh-day Shabbat? The Jewish people say: it is the first day of the feast, Christians say, it is the seventh-day Shabbat). This feast of the firstfruits is interesting for every Bible student, be-cause if G-d has given the feasts: 3 Spring feasts (Pesach, Bekurim (firstfruits) and the counting of the Omer, Shavuot), and 3 Autumn feasts (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot), it is
to illustrate G-d’s plan of salvation. The Spring feasts are about the first coming of the Messiah and the Autumn feasts are about the end of time and the second coming of the Messiah. Let’s speak about the Spring feasts which symbolize the first coming of the Messiah. The three feasts are Pesach, Bekurim and counting of the Omer and Shavuot. Pesach is the symbolic representation of the first coming of the Messiah on earth and especially the death of the Messiah symbolized by the death of the Passover lamb, that is well explained by Rabbi Shaul when he said “For Messiah, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7). In order to understand the firstfruits symbolism we have to continue our reading of this text: “But in fact Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20), the fruits are symbolically the fruits produced by G-d and His plan of salvation, they represent the great resurrection of G-d’s people at the end of time and the coming of the Messiah, G-d has given us the firstfruits, that means a first resurrection as the guaranty of our own resurrection. Yeshua is the firstfruits, because if the Messiah died and did not resurrect our faith is in vain. It is exactly what Rabbi Shaul affirms in this chapter, “Messiah died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). According to the gospel Yeshua died at the same time that the Passover lamb was sacrificed, on Friday evening on Erev Pesach. On that year the first
day of Pesach coincided with the Seventh-day Sabbath. Right after he died the sunset arrived and G-d’s people entered in the first day of Pesach and in the same time on the Shabbat. The day after this Shabbat was the first day of the counting of the Omer, and the first day to weave the sheaf before the L-rd in order to present to him the firstfruits. That is why Yeshua resurrected on that day, he was the firstfruits of G-d, the first and the greatest among the resurrected. He is the assurance of our own resurrection: “Now if Messiah is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Messiah has been raised. And if Messiah has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:12–14). Our resurrection is wonderfully described at the end of this chapter: “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to G-d, who gives us the victory through our L-rd Yeshua Messiah.” (1 Corinthians 15:50–58).
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ises to her that she will see her children who are in exile come back home, “For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them” (Is 60:9a). That will come from the L-rd “for the name of the L-rd your G-d, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.” (Is 60:9b). Israel will live in peace without fearing the nations and invaders “Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings led in procession.” (Is 60:11). Blessings will be always there for her “Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the L-rd will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever. . . the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the L-rd; in its time I will accomplish it quickly. (Is. 60:20-22).
Stories and Traditions
Good and Sweet New Year 5777
Inspirational Corner
v G-d surrounded Israel with every facility, gave them every privilege, that would make them an honor to His name and a blessing to surrounding nations. If they would walk in the ways of obedience, He promised to make them “high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor.”“All people of the earth,” He said, “shall hear that thou art called by the name of the L-rd; and they shall be afraid of thee.”The nations which shall hear all these statutes shall say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” Deuteronomy 26:19; 28:10; Deuteronomy 4:6. (Ed 40)
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abbis give the following parable to show that insisting on the answer to every question may not always be in our best interest. A wealthy land owner, who was making a party for his many friends, decided to have a special garment made. He bought the most expensive material and hired a tailor to make for him the garment. The tailor put all his effort in producing a most special garment. When the wealthy man appeared at the party, everyone was astonished and praised the beauty and craftsmanship of the garment. However, one person was jealous of the praise heaped on the tailor who made the garment. He went to the wealthy man and accused the tailor of not using all the cloth in the creation of the garment but stealing some of the very expensive cloth. The wealthy man was furious. He called the tailor and said, “The cloth I gave you was four meters long, but when I measured the garment I found it to be shorter than three meters.” The tailor told him that the accusation was wrong, “Every bit of the material you gave me is in the garment.” He went on to explain to him how the extra material was needed for the many pleats, folds and overlaps which make up the beauty of the suit. The wealth man didn’t accept the explanations. “I want the unused cloth back!” he demanded. Seeing that all his explana-
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tions didn’t make an impression on the man, the tailor asked for the garment. He then began removing the threads and taking apart the seams. “What are you doing,” cried the man. “You’re ruining my most precious suit!” “With your stubbornness,” replied the tailor, “the only way to satisfy you is to take apart the garment and bring it back to its original form. Now you will measure it and see that I was right. This is the price you must pay for your lack of faith in me!” On Rosh Hashana we pray for a Good and Sweet New Year. A year in which the good which G-d will give us will not be in a hidden form but in a revealed way - Good & Sweet new year 5777.
A Great Treasure
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here was a poor Jew who labored in the field. One day, the prophet Elijah appeared to him and said, “You are destined to be blessed with six years of extraordinary wealth. You have the choice whether to have them now or the last six years of your life?” Confused, the man said, “Let me go home and consult my wife.” Elijah agreed. When he told his wife about the strange offer, she said, “Ask for the six years to begin now.” The next day he again met Elijah in the field and told him of his wife’s decision to begin the years of wealth immediately. Elijah agreed and said, “Go home. Before you arrive home your wealth will already have arrived!”
As the man was talking to Elijah, his children, who were playing in the yard, found a great treasure. When the man returned home he was greeted by his wife and children who excitedly told him of the great fortune that they found. They all gave thanks to G-d for the wonderful gift. The wife then said, “Since G-d has been so good to us and blessed us with six years of wealth, we must be extremely kind and generous. We must take advantage of our good fortune and use our wealth properly, to give lots of charity and help others.” They excelled in giving charity during these six years and kept a detailed ledger of the charity they distributed. Six years later, Elijah the prophet appeared to the man and told him that it was time to return the fortune. The man responded, “Six years ago, when you offered me the fortune, I didn’t make any decision before asking my wife. Now too, I want to consult with my wife first.” Elijah agreed. He went home and told his wife that Elijah has come back to claim their fortune. His wife replied, “Go and tell Elijah that if he found someone more trustworthy than us, we will gladly give it back. After examining their charitable records for the past six years, it was decreed in heaven that the fortune should stay with them for the rest of their lives. Thus, the Torah commands us to pursue the mitzvah of giving charity (“Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof ”) for in the end it is especially beneficial to the one who gives.
Kids Parasha Ki-Tavo
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Inspirational Corner
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
“And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice: ‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the L-rd, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’ ‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ ‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ ‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ ” (Deuteronomy 27:13–18) http://www.bnai-tikkun.org.nz 7
v In the laws committed to Israel, explicit instruction was given concerning education. To Moses at Sinai G-d had revealed Himself as “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Exodus 34:6. These principles, embodied in His law, the fathers and mothers in Israel were to teach their children. Moses by divine direction declared to them: “These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:6, 7. (Ed 40)