Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 9 Av, 5784
Parsha Va-‘Ethannan – “I requested”: (Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11)
Third Portion: Deuteronomy 4:41 – 4:49

Good morning! These thoughts are posted a day late because of Tisha B’Av. I hope you have a meaningful fast. I spent time reflecting on the mourning process, and how death, destruction, and mourning are not really an ending. They are a the beginning of a new chapter. What needs to die that we’ve been holding onto?

We wake up on the 10^th of Av with new hope and a new life! Let’s dig into the Torah:

41Then Moses decided to separate three cities on the side of the Jordan towards the sunrise,

42so that a murderer might flee there, he who murders his fellow man unintentionally, but did not hate him in time past, that he may flee to one of these cities, so that he might live:

43Bezer in the desert, in the plain country of the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead of the Gadites, and Golan in the Bashan of the Menassites.

So Moses set opportunities for a new life for even those who kill someone unintentionally.

44And this is the teaching which Moses set before the children of Israel:

45These are the testimonies, statutes and ordinances, which Moses spoke to the children of Israel when they went out of Egypt,

46on the side of the Jordan in the valley, opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they went out of Egypt.

47And they possessed his land and the land of Og, king of the Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were on the side of the Jordan, towards the sunrise,

48from Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, to Mount Sion, which is Hermon,

49and all the plain across the Jordan eastward as far as the sea of the plain, under the waterfalls of the hill.

 This final part of the portion is meant (in my opinion) to establish the authority.

My takeaway is this. What and who do we hold as authoritative in our lives? This is a critical question – we need an anchor. A tether. A grounding.

Otherwise we become a rudderless ship, and runaway hot air balloon, a lost runner.

This is crucial as we learn to navigate the darkness. And this is a good takeaway for us as we return to the light, and the full moon that approaches!

What are your thoughts?

Here are my thoughts from the past two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 7 Av, 5783

Today’s portion is all about the “cities of refuge.”  There were three cities established where someone could go for safety.  The Torah talks about a person who unintentionally murders his fellow; provided he did not hate him yesterday or the day before.  This person can go to one of the cities of refuge.

I reflect on this.

If Murder isn’t JUST a physical act – but a spiritual and emotional act as well? If I use words to try and murder someone – if I get angry and unintentionally hurt someone? I can seek refuge.  However, if I am building up this hatred and anger and don’t express it? If I go three days with this anger and hatred in my heart and THEN “murder” them?  No refuge.

This inspires me to search my heart for hatred. And honestly? Most of that is within me towards myself.  And I need to continue to work on that.

Which then leads me to what would the three “cities of refuge” look like for me.  Immediately I know these are my cities of refuge:

•  Journaling
• Meditation
• Walking

These are the places I go to feel “safe” when I am struggling with internal thoughts that are super critical. But beyond those three cities of refuge? The Torah is the safest place for me to be

How about you?  Where are YOUR “cities of refuge?”  Where do you go within to feel safe?

I’d love to know your thoughts!

Clipped from 12 Av, 5782

Ok. Todays portion picks up from Moses talking to the children of Israel by seperation three cities east of the Jordan where the sun rises. These were the three cities of refuge we discussed prior – places where a murderer who killed unintentionally could flee to and be safe.

Then todays portion closes with a review of the Torah. And a brief history of how they came to be on the east side of the Jordan.

All of this definitely feels like preparation to enter the promised land.

What are your thoughts?