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 […]

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, […]