In the declaration on bringing the first fruits to be dedicated at the Tabernacle or Temple, one says “My father was a wandering Aramean.” It is true that the Midrash interprets it differently, to suggest that Laban the Aramean tried to kill our father Jacob.” This is clearly homiletics, not the literal translation. In the Pesah Hagadah, this quote is…
Sefer Devarim
Warnings
There’s a very unusual ceremony in this week’s part of the Torah. When the tribes cross over the river Jordan and settle on the West Bank they were commanded to gather on the two Mountains Gerizim and Eyval which can be found near the city now called Nablus. To this day, they are considered holy by the Samaritans. Their Temple…
Consequences
This week’s reading continues the recapitulation of the biblical laws first given in Exodus. But whereas last week’s dealt mainly with government and social affairs, this week we deal mainly with personal morality. How the individual should behave, rather than the State. The transition is marked by the law of the captive woman. If a man goes to war and…
Sons Do Not Die for the Sins of Their Fathers
“Fathers shall not be punished for their sons, nor shall sons be punished for their fathers. Each person shall be punished for his own crimes.” Deuteronomy 24.16. On the face of it this quote from this week’s reading, is a biblical response to Sumerian and Assyrian law. They did indeed put children to death for crimes their parents committed and…
Divorce
Divorce is not mentioned in the earlier books of the Torah. Here it is. What happens when a marriage breaks down irretrievably? The Torah in this week’s reading and the Talmud both say that if there is a genuine grievance and it is not just frivolous, then one may divorce. One appears before a Rabbinic Court of Law, a Beth…
Animals and Birds
The Torah contains a surprising number of laws relating to the treatment of animals. “You must not see your brother’s ox or sheep wandering lost and ignore them, but you must return them…and similarly his ass” “Do not look on if you see your brother’s ass or ox fallen by the roadside and ignore it. You must help him raise…