"You rebelled against the commandment of HaShem"(Deuteronomy 1:26) Av 3, 5783/July 21, 2023 This week we begin the book of Deuteronomy, Devarim, (literally "words,") in Hebrew. The entire book of Devarim consists of the words that Moshe spoke to his people Israel over the final thirty seven days of his life. Moshe's words contain a repetition of many of the laws previously stated, as well as commandments that we have not previously read, including laws and statutes that will apply to Israel once she is sovereign in the land HaShem has granted her. Moshe also delivers soaring descriptions of the unique beauty and promise of the land of Israel, emphasizing Israel's eternal connection to the land of Israel, and, of course, Israel's eternal covenant with HaShem, the G-d of Israel. Moshe begins his address with a recap of Israel's forty years in the wilderness. Significantly, one of the first things that Moshe recalls and sets before the people of Israel, is the tragic account of the spies sent by Moshe to scout out the land of Israel in anticipation of Israel's imminent entry into the land to conquer and occupy it. Had the twelve hand-picked spies, righteous men, each of them, returned to the desert encampment with words of encouragement Israel would have entered into Canaan thirty nine years earlier, avoiding all the trials and tribulations that often plagued them throughout their extended stay in the wilderness. But, in spite of the beautiful bounty of fruits they harvested in the land, which they presented before Israel, and their accurate descriptions of the land itself, the spies, with the exception of Yehoshua and Calev, spoke ill of the land and of Israel's ability to wrest it from its current inhabitants. Their evil report crushed the spirit of Israel, causing the entire nation to spurn the land of Israel, to spurn HaShem's promise, to spurn their exodus from Egypt, and to spurn HaShem, Himself. This single moment, this single act of ingratitude, this single act of a loss of faith, not only in HaShem, but in themselves, haunted Moshe every day of his life. He could not let it go, nor should he have. Moshe understood the catastrophic gravity of Israel's momentary spiritual collapse. For while Israel would soon regain her wits, and, in fact, try to undo the damage by pushing ahead into Canaan, even without G-d's blessing, the irreparable damage was done. This moment, this day, was the 9th of Av, and it would become, ever since, Israel's day of infamy. Our sages teach us that G-d was so disgusted with Israel's ingratitude, and the day and night of ceaseless sobbing after hearing the report of the spies, that He would give them a real reason to cry on that night, a reason that would stretch for generation after generation. And so it was, on the day of the 9th of Av, many hundreds of years later, the Holy Temple, first built by King Solomon, was destroyed by the Babylonian invaders. And many hundreds of years later, the Holy Temple, rebuilt under the leadership of Ezra and Nechemiah, would be destroyed by the Roman occupiers on the day of the 9th of Av. And the suffering of the 9th of Av would not end even with those two horrific calamities, but would continue to visit upon Israel new disasters and new tragedies, even up to our very day. Moshe, in his prophetic vision, understood all this. Every year we read parashat Devarim on the Shabbat preceding the 9th of Av. Every year we read Moshe's timely reminder of the fearful ramifications of even a momentary national loss of faith. It is a reminder that we are constantly in need of. So often it is when things are looking brightest, when our long held goals and aspirations are within reach, that we grow complacent, forgetting that it is HaShem, and HaShem only, who has brought us to these high places and looks over us and tends to our needs. The prophet Isaiah berates his people with words that we read in this week's haftara portion: "An ox knows his owner and a donkey his master's crib; Israel does not know, my people does not consider." (Isaiah 1:3) But all is not lost. HaShem does not punish His people happily nor gratuitously. As a loving father, HaShem castigates His children in order to teach and correct their ways. HaShem's promise to Israel remains His promise. Our covenant remains unbreakable. The land of Israel remains the sole heritage of the children of Israel, and our obligation to build for HaShem a house in Israel, a Holy Temple upon which to rest His presence and to dwell amongst all His children, remains our obligation. Just as HaShem took Israel out of Egypt in order to place her in the land of Israel, HaShem has taken us out of 2,000 years of exile, of persecution, progroms and holocaust, in order to place us once again in the beloved land. Once again G-d's children reside in the mountains and valleys, upon the coast and the rich fertile farmland of Israel. Once again, in the words of Zechariah, "Old men and women... sit in the streets of Jerusalem... And the streets of the city are filled, with boys and girls playing in its streets." (Zechariah 8:4-5) All that remains is for Israel to keep her faith, and not abandon HaShem or His promise, even for a moment. All that remains is for Israel to fulfill her obligation to appoint righteous judges and to live in accordance with G-d's commandments. And all that remains is for Israel to answer with love and with a whole heart, as one united people, HaShem's long ago, but never outdated request of His children: "Build for Me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell amongst you." (Exodus 25:8) This coming Wednesday evening we begin the day-long fast of the 9th of Av, concluding the three week period of intensifying mourning for the loss of the Holy Temple. Having returned to the land of Israel and to the holy city of Jerusalem and the place of the Holy Temple, the lesson of the fast of the 9th of Av is no longer one of endless weeping. No longer can we afford a night like that on which Israel wept in the wilderness. We are home and it's time to build a home for HaShem. This is the teaching of Moshe and of all our prophets. The time has arrived. HaShem is waiting! . |
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Yitzchak Reuven discusses the new month of Av, a month of tragedy & comfort, 40 years in the wilderness according to Moshe, and a timely recap of the sin of the spies. We welcome in the new month of Av, a month that marks Israel's greatest tragedies but also Israel's greatest hopes and aspirations. We also begin reading Deuteronomy, the fifth and final book of Torah, which records Moshe's final, 37 day address to the children of Israel. |
Help To Build The Holy Temple In Our Time! Donate Generously To Help The Sacred Work Of The Temple Institute! Every contribution helps to rebuild the Holy Temple in our Time! |
Justice! Just what is it? Is it attainable? What do righteousness and judgment have to do with justice? We are commanded to pursue justice, but justice itself can only be attained with the help of G-d. Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1 - 3:22)
Parashat Devarim is read on Shabbat:
Av 4, 5783/July 22, 2023 |
Haftara For Shabbat Parashat Devarim Isaiah 1:1-27: "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amotz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Yoham, Achaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for HaShem has spoken; Children I have raised and exalted, yet they have rebelled against Me. An ox knows his owner and a donkey his master's crib; Israel does not know, my people does not consider..." |
A Temple Mount Moment: Yair Levi & the Levitical Choir! Israeli singer songwriter, Yair Levi, talks about his hopes and dreams to perform in the Levitical Choir in the rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem! |
A Time To Mourn? A Time To Build! Next Wednesday evening begins the fast of the 9th of Av, commemorating the destruction of both the first and second Holy Temple. For 2,000 years Israel has been mourning the loss of the House of HaShem. But today, after the establishment of the state of Israel and the ingathering of the exiles, after the reunification of Jerusalem and the liberation of the Temple Mount, the time has come to cease our mourning and to begin the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, "a house of prayer for all nations!" (Isaiah 56:7) Learn the history of Israel's continued presence on the Temple Mount during her long years of exile, and the repeated attempts to rebuild the Holy Temple. |
Return To The Temple Mount Following yesterday's one day closure of the Temple Mount to all non-Muslims, many Jewish pilgrims ascended the Mount today to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Av, albeit one day late. |
New Moon Of Menachem Av Gadi Eidelheit, director of the Israeli New Moon Society took this photo of the new moon of Menachem Av in the skies over Israel. He captured the new moon at sunset, which explains the deep orange sky. Chodesh tov - have a good month! |
Celebrating Rosh Chodesh In Tzedekiah's Cave! These video clips of Rosh Chodesh (New Month) prayers and songs being sung in Tzedekiah's Cave in Jerusalem today were posted on social media. |
The First Of Av: Day Of The Passing Of Aharon, Kohen Gadol, Brother Of Moshe & Miriam Today, Rosh Chodesh Av, the first day of the month of Av, the fifth month of the Hebrew year, is the day of the passing of Aharon, Israel's first Kohen Gadol (High Priest). |
The New Month Of Av "And on the beginning of your months, you shall offer up a burnt offering to HaShem: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in the first year, all unblemished. Three tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each bull, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each ram..." |
Kohen Mashuach Milchama - The Kohen Anointed For War (Part 2) The Kohen Mashuach Milchama, (the kohen (priest) anointed for war) was charged with speaking words of encouragement to warriors about to enter into battle. In addition, he would announce those who are to be exempted from battle and are required to return home. The role of the Kohen Mashuach Milchama is described in Deuteronomy, chapter 20, verse 1-8... |
Chodesh Tov - Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av! Tonight, (Tuesday evening), begins the new month of Av, also known as Menachem Av, the "comforting father." Av is the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar year, (beginning with Nisan). It contains within its 30 days both the solemn day of national tragedy, Tish'a b'Av, (the 9th of Av, the day of the destruction of both the 1st and 2nd Holy Temples), as well as Tu b'Av, (the 15th of Av), a day celebrating love, unity and the healing of old wounds. Chodesh tov - have a wonderful month! |
Wednesday, July 19: Temple Mount Closed To Non-Muslims This Wednesday, (July 19th), the Temple Mount will be closed to all non-Muslims, due to Muslim New Year.
The Temple Mount will reopen on Thursday, July 20th. |
Kohen Mashuach Milchama - The Kohen Anointed For War (Part 1) We recently read in parashat Matot-Masei, the concluding chapters of the book of Numbers about the Kohen Mashuach Milchama, literally, the kohen (priest) anointed for war. When Israel goes to war, a special kohen is appointed, whose job it is to speak to the troops and strengthen their trust in G-d and their fighting spirit, before going into battle. |
This Week: Parashat Devarim: Retracing Our Steps And Building Toward The Future "HaShem, your G-d, has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens in abundance. May HaShem G-d of your forefathers add to you a thousandfold as many as you are, and may He bless you, as He spoke concerning you!" (Deuteronomy 1:10-11) This week we begin reading the book of Deuteronomy, known in Hebrew as Devarim, meaning "words," a perfect and succinct description of the book which is comprised entirely of the words Moshe spoke to his people Israel over the final 37 years of his life. |
Temple-Era Banquet Takes Diners Back 2,000 Years A lavish banquet held at the Psagot Winery, located in Samaria north of Jerusalem, brought participants back to the Second Temple era this week. The unique dinner, an initiative of the Binyamin Regional Council’s Department of Religious Culture, was organized as part of the council’s Binyamin Temple Conference on Wednesday.
Attendees were served historical foods, mentioned in the Bible and other traditional sources, that the Jewish people ate some two millennia ago, including sacred breads, sacrificial meat, priestly offerings, biblical-style salads and wine produced from local grapes. |
Mikdash Monday - The Churban (destruction) and rebuilding of the Holy Temple (Part 2) “Thus says Hashem; Let your hands be strong, you that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who spoke on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, saying that the temple might be built.” (Zechariya 8:9) |
Biblical Red Heifer Could Bring Million Visitors To Samaria The Ancient Shiloh heritage site will soon host a Red Heifer research center. Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria’s Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer. The 22-month-old cow, which was brought to Israel from the United States, found a new home at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site, where the biblical Tabernacle once stood. |
Shavua Tov from the Temple Mount! "A song for a thanksgiving offering. Shout to HaShem, all the earth. Serve HaShem with joy, come before Him with praise. Know that HaShem is G-d; He made us and we are His, people and the flock of His pasture. Come into His gates with thanksgiving, into His courtyards with praise; give thanks to Him, bless His name. For HaShem is good; His kindness is forever, and until generation after generation is His faith." (Psalms 100) Shavua tov - wishing all a very good week! |
Red Heifers Arrive In Israel! On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality. |
Red Heifer Update The five red heifers that were flown into Israel last summer are currently enjoying a quiet, pastoral life in an undisclosed location in Israel. They are being periodically checked to determine whether they still meet the very strict standards required to be eligible candidates for the red heifer ceremony. These requirements include no blemishes and no non-red hairs. While red heifers are fairly common throughout the world, a red heifer that meets these halachic requirements would be a tremendous breakthrough. |
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute |
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