Portion Summary Devarim is both the title for the last book from the scroll of the Torah and the title of the first Torah portion therein. Devarim means “words.” The English-speaking world calls this book Deuteronomy. The Hebrew title for the book comes from the opening phrase of the book: “These are the words (devarim) which Moses […]
Portion Summary The forty-fifth reading from the Torah and the second reading from the book of Deuteronomy is named Va’etchanan, which means “and I besought.” The title comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, “I also pleaded with the LORD at that time” (Deuteronomy 3:23). The portion completes the historical prologue of […]
Portion Summary The forty-sixth reading from the Torah and the third reading from the book of Deuteronomy is named Ekev, a word from the first verse of the portion. Deuteronomy 7:12 says, “Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep […]
Portion Summary The forty-seventh reading from the Torah and the fourth reading from the book of Deuteronomy is named Re’eh, an imperative form of the word “see.” It is the first word of the Torah portion: “See , I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse” (Deuteronomy 11:26). This reading contains admonitions […]
Beginning of Elul
Portion Summary The word shoftim means “judges.” It is also the name of the forty-eighth reading from the Torah, which begins with the words “You shall appoint for yourself judges ” (Deuteronomy 16:18). Within this Torah portion are several laws governing the judicial process and other institutions of the state: the establishment of law courts, the clerical […]
Portion Summary The forty-ninth reading from the Torah is called Ki Tetze, which means “when you go.” It is named after the first words of Deuteronomy 21:10, which are “When you go out to battle against your enemies.” Deuteronomy is organized as an ancient Near Eastern covenant-treaty document. Previous chapters of Deuteronomy formed a preamble, […]
Portion Summary Deuteronomy 26 begins the fiftieth reading from the Torah with the words, “Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance” (26:1). In Hebrew, the words for “when you enter” are ki tavo. This Torah portion begins with laws regarding first fruits and tithes. […]
Portion Summary The name of the fifty-first reading from the Torah is Nitzavim, which means “you are standing.” The name is derived from the first verse of the portion in which Moses says, “You stand (nitzavim) today, all of you, before the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 29:10). In this portion, Moses invites the entire assembly […]
Portion Summary The name of the fifty-second reading from the Torah is Vayelech, which means “and he went.” The name is derived from the first word of the first verse of the portion: “So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.” In this short portion, Moses commands an assembly for a public Torah […]
The word Ha’azinu literally means “give ear,” an expression meaning “listen to this.” It is also the name of the fifty-third and second-to-last reading from the Torah. Ha’azinu is the first word of the Song of Moses, which begins with the words “Give ear , O heavens, and let me speak” (Deuteronomy 32:1). This Torah portion is only a […]
Portion Summary The Festival of Trumpets begins ten days of preparation for Yom Kippur, a title that means “Day of Atonement.” It is the appointed time of the tenth day of the seventh month. It is a fast day—a day for confessing sins, repenting, and asking God for forgiveness. In the days of the Tabernacle […]
Portion Summary Five days after the Day of Atonement, the Festival of Booths begins. The festival starts with a yom tov Sabbath on the fifteenth day of the seventh month and continues for seven days. The Hebrew name of the festival is Sukkot, a word often translated into English as “tabernacles” or “booths.” The name […]
The fifty-fourth and last reading from the Torah begins with the words Vezot ha’Bracha, which means “and this is the blessing.” These are the first words of Deuteronomy 33:1. This Torah portion is ordinarily read on the day of Simchat Torah (“Rejoicing of the Torah”) in conjunction with the beginning of the book of Genesis […]