Ilustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
In This Week’s Parashah: מָה בַּפָּרָשָׁה
Full Parashah Reading: Devarim 11:26-16:17
- Benei Yisrael are instructed to go to two mountains, Har Gerizim and Har Eival, to announce blessings and curses from God, when they eventually enter Eretz Yisrael.
- A theme of our parashah is the central place for worship. This will be the Beit Ha-Mikdash in Yerushalayim.
- קָרְבָּנוֹת (korbanot, sacrifices) must be offered only there. The korbanot of Pesah, Shavuot, Sukkot, and Shabbat must be brought there, and coming together to do that would be joyous.
- Farmers would bring and eat a tenth of all their produce there.
- Moshe tells Benei Yisrael they are God’s children, and they should follow the mitzvot.
- Animals can be slaughtered for food. They need to chew their cud and have split hooves. Fish need fins and scales. You can’t eat any of the birds the Torah lists as non-Kosher. You can’t eat blood.
- Be careful of false prophets, or others who tempt you to worship idols.
- שְׁמִטָּה (shemittah, the year of release) happens every seven years. At this time, loans are forgiven.
- Look out for people in need, and be generous with giving צְדָקָה (tzedakah, charity).
