Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 29 Tammuz, 5784
Parsha Devarim – “Words”: (Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22)
First Portion: Deuteronomy 1:1 – 1:11

Good morning! We are at a turning point. Today is the last day of Tammuz. We shift into the month of Av tonight. Av is a sad period of time of mourning as we count down to the day of remembrance of the destruction of the temples.

We are also shifting to the final book of the Torah. Deuteronomy is a book where the “law” is repeated.  Moses basically brings everyone together for our final instructions before entering into the promised land. We’ve done the work.

Tonight is the new moon! It is time to take stock of the year, as we are entering the final quarter. What worked? What do we need to leave behind. More on this tomorrow.

Let’s dig in:

1These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on that side of the Jordan in the desert, in the plain opposite the Red Sea, between Paran and Tofel and Lavan and Hazeroth and Di Zahav.

2″It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.”

3It came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had commanded him regarding them;

4After he had smitten Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og, king of the Bashan, who dwelt in Ashtaroth in Edrei.

5On that side of the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses commenced [and] explained this Law, saying,

So some things we pick up here. It is 11 days to journey. It took almost 41 years to get there. The direct route isn’t always the best one. We are living in a labyrinth. We struggle because we want to go straight from point A to point B. And, sometimes it takes a while to get there.

Moses was going to explain the “law” – which again are ways for us to connect with Hashem; to “tap into” the Universe; to be with the “one soul.”

6″The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.

7Turn and journey, and come to the mountain of the Amorites and to all its neighboring places, in the plain, on the mountain, and in the lowland, and in the south and by the seashore, the land of the Canaanites, and the Lebanon, until the great river, the Euphrates River.

8See, I have set the land before you; come and possess the land which the Lord swore to your forefathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them and their descendants after them.

9And I said to you at that time, saying, ‘I cannot carry you alone.

10The Lord, your God, has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens in abundance.

11May the Lord God of your forefathers add to you a thousandfold as many as you are, and may He bless you, as He spoke concerning you!

Moses sets our path ahead by spending some time on the past and what brought us to the moment.

Take a moment to reflect on your year. What have you accomplished? What do you want to focus on?  This is the foundation of the months ahead. It is time to fully grieve what has gotten us here, but is no longer serving us.

What are your thoughts?

Here are my thoughts from the last two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 27 Tamuz, 5783

Today we begin the “final” book of the Torah.  I use the word “final” loosely because the Torah – like our spiritual liberation and freedom, is not a linear process.  As soon as we finish Deuteronomy, we will go right back to Genesis.

The word “Deuteronomy” means – repetition of the law.  Remember, the word “law” here is more (in my opinion) connected to “opportunities to connect with Hashem” or “opportunities to connect with our soul.”  So this book is meant (again, in my opinion) with ways for us to connect to our own soul.

This is from the Chumash I am reading:

Deuteronomy (“repetition of the law”) is a new book with a different approach. As you rise each morning, don’t view the new day as a repetition; it is a new page in your life, requiring a novel approach. This is a good theme for us to consider as we read this last book of the Torah. We are moving towards the end of our journey learning about liberation- and, closer towards the beginning (Genesis) of the cycle of getting us into slavery again.

Devarim is the first Parsha of Deuteronomy.  Devarim means “words.”  We are basically getting Moses giving the Israelites his “last lecture.”  This is his final communication to us.  We are about to head into the promised land. Moses is about to pass. Joshua is about to take over as leader.

As we turn the page to a new “segment” of our lives, especially with the new moon and the month of Av approaching this week, this is a really good place to be.  Setting our intentions for the next segment is a crucial piece.

What is it we want to bring with us into this new segment?

What is it we want to let go of and leave behind?

There are the questions we can be chewing on – and – I think – Moses is going to help us with this in our readings.

Because today’s portion?  It’s a rebuke.  He is helping us explore what we should be leaving behind when we enter the promised land.  What should we leave behind as we enter this next segment of our journey?

His first rebuke:

• You have been living too much time by this mountain.  It is time to MOVE!

What have we been stuck on in this moment? What do we need to let go of?

I have recently been learning about this very process, and what has gotten me stuck? Self condemnation.  There were things I have been holding onto – where I needed to ask myself for forgiveness.  Regrets. Guilt. Shame. And I was scared to move forward carrying these burdens.  It felt safer to remain where I was because it was COMFORTABLE.  I got comfortable with these regrets, guilt and shame.   But it is time to move. We need to go forward and trust.  And the worst case scenario? As the Torah seems to indicate? We will start over with Genesis.

Every moment is a Genesis to a new moment.

Every moment is an Exodus to a new moment.

Every moment has a new moment we are called to (Leviticus).

Every moment counts.  Numbers.

Every moment is a repetition. An opportunity to repeat a previous moment, or an opportunity to turn a new page.  Deuteronomy.

These are my thoughts.  What are yours?

Here is my commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah thoughts for 3 Av, 5782

Last night, I was driving and saw the sliver of the moon. It was a beautiful sight. And it was a sliver of hope that in the current heaviness and darkness there is light forming and beginning. May the Torah be a guide to our internal lights on our journey from slavery to liberation! Let’s dig into a new Parsha and the last book of the Torah this week!

Devarim is the first Parsha in Deuteronomy. Devarim literally means “words.”

Deuteronomy means “repetition of the law.” From the Chumash;

Deuteronomy (“repetition of the law”) is a new book with a different approach. As you rise each morning don’t view the new day as a repetition; it is a new page in your life, requiring a novel approach. This is a good theme for us to consider as we read this last book of the Torah. We are moving towards the end of our journey learning about liberation- and, closer towards the beginning (Genesis) of the cycle of getting us into slavery again.

Moses starts Deuteronomy with a rebuke of the Jewish people as they were on the bank of the Jordan.

He mentioned places on the journey to the Jordan River where the people rebelled against God.

Then we get the time frame of how long it took to get there:

In the fortieth year. In the eleventh month. On the first day of the month. Moses spoke to the children of Israel right before his passing.

He rebuked them about everything God commanded him on their behalf. Moses began to “explain the Torah” there as well. The Torah alludes to Moses giving different translations and interpretations Of the Torah as well.

This was Moses’ “last lecture” in a sense.

He rebuked about the need to appoint judges to close the portion today.

I’m reflecting on why Moses would rebuke the people right before they were to enter the promised land. I sit with this. You’d think this would be a joyous day. They’ve made it through the wilderness. They are just about to get to their destination. And Moses basically “yuks their yum” by reminding them of their past.

In our journey to freedom and liberation, we need to always ground ourselves in  remembering who we are; and where we came from. And. Probably. Where we will go back to. As we see the Torah is a cycle. We have periods of slavery, and periods of liberation. But the point of the Torah isn’t necessarily about a destination. It’s about the journey. In fact, that is what Moses is saying here. One of the lines in the portion says “you have been living too much time by this mountain.” We aren’t meant to be stagnant – even in freedom and liberation. We are meant to recycle. At least in my opinion.

What are your thoughts?