Va'Etchanan

PARSHAT VA'ETCHANAN

Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Explore the bible portion of Parshat Va'Etchanan, the 45th Torah portion from Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11, where Moses pleads with God to enter the Promised Land. This parashah emphasizes the importance of remembering the Exodus, the unique revelation at Mount Sinai, and the significance of adhering to God's commandments. It also discusses the dispersion of the Jewish people and the influence of other religions. Read about the 613 commandments, the teachings of Maimonides, and the connection to Shabbat Nachamu, offering profound insights into Jewish faith and identity.

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Parsha Va'Etchanan is the 45th Torah portion, covering Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11. In this parashah, Moses pleads with God for the opportunity to enter the Promised Land, but is rejected.

The importance of remembering the exodus from Egypt and the unique event at Mount Sinai, where God spoke to the entire nation in a loud voice, is emphasized. Va'Etchanan contains more than 30 of the 613 commandments of the Torah and is read on the Shabbat known as Nachamu.

This section also prophesies about the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the world and the influence of other religions on their faith, such as the Roman and Muslim religions. The central teaching emphasizes the importance of adhering to God and His commandments to lead a fulfilling life.

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READING FOR VA'ETCHANAN

SUMMARY OF PARASHAT VA'ETCHANAN

Va'Etchanan (וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Hebrew for "and I begged or implored," the first word of the parashah) is the 45th Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה, parashah) in the annual cycle of Jewish Torah reading and is the second in the book of Deuteronomy. It comprises Deuteronomy chapters 3:23 to 7:11. This parashah contains more than 30 of the 613 commandments of the Torah, and it is composed of 7,343 Hebrew letters, 1,878 Hebrew words, and 122 verses, occupying approximately 249 lines in a Torah scroll (סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה, Sefer Torah). 

Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in late July or August. It is always read on the special Shabbat known as Nachamu (Comfort), the Saturday immediately following Tisha B'Av, because this parashah describes how the Israelites will be expelled from the Land of Israel due to their sin. The order (the Sidra) of this Parashah begins with Moses' last attempt to plead with the Eternal, in a final effort to be allowed into the Holy Land, as his will to fulfill all the commandments was so strong. He knew that most of the divine commandments, prohibitions, and decrees were only valid for the Holy Land and could only be fulfilled there. 

But God was angry with him and only granted him the opportunity to see the Land from Mount Pisgath; although according to our Sages, the pleas earned Moses at least the opportunity to see the Land supernaturally, as the Eternal showed him the Land from end to end, which would have been impossible from that Mount. And that power granted to Moses to see the Land also allowed him to see the state of the Land, in all times, present and future; from the Euphrates River to the River of Egypt, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan.

In this Parasha, we also find some obligatory reminders, such as the commandment to remember the Exodus from Egypt and the commandment to daily recall the event at Mount Sinai, that historic moment when God spoke directly to the entire nation from heaven. An event that would only happen once in the whole history of the inhabitants of planet Earth. No other people will have that opportunity for God to speak to millions of their inhabitants at the same time. 

This unique event is what sets Judaism apart from other world religions. All religions began with the words of a single leader without any witnesses, whereas in Judaism, it was millions of men, women, and children who heard the voice of God speaking to them live from heaven. God told Moses that this was the only way to get the people to believe in His Torah forever, given that there were millions of witnesses to the dialogue between Moses and the Eternal. 

Through that magnificent event, God also assured us that He would never change His word, that there would never be another Torah, and that the Covenant of Mount Sinai is eternal. And so that everyone knows, although He promises to renew the Covenant, it is nothing new, but rather the very words of Mount Sinai, which this time He would implant directly in our very core. This is what Jeremiah 31:33 tells us: "But this is the new covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Torah within them, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." It is not a New Testament, much less a book of new laws.

This Torah Portion also teaches us something new: it tells us that he who clings to the Lord his God is the one who lives (Deut 4:4). How is this possible? God is not a human being; He has no body of any kind; He cannot be compared to anything or anyone. He cannot be seen, smelled, or felt; so how can one cling to Him, when His word tells us that He is a consuming fire (Deut 4:24). Our Sages have taught us the secret: it is to adhere to His words, studying them, scrutinizing them, and obeying all His statutes; and keeping our minds fixed on God, turning away from sin, protecting our eyes from impurity, and doing good (The Secret of Judaism by Rabbi Ya'akov Ades - French Version of Pirkei Ha'Machshvah or Divrei Yaakov).

Another impressive part of this Sidra is the Prophecies of Moses. He prophesied that the Jews would be scattered throughout all the nations of the world (Deut 4:25-27). This prophecy does not end there, Moses assures us, that not only would we be scattered throughout the earth, in the nations of the world, because of our idolatry, but because of that, we would live in countries where our enemies would force us to convert to a false religion, whose symbol is wood (the cross), and that other countries would force us to accept another religion whose symbol is stone (Mecca/Islam) This prophecy that these two false religions would exist—that of the Romans and that of the Muslims—is impressive. 

To ensure that these two religions are the ones being truly discussed today, through science, two coded words have been discovered in these two verses (Deut 4:27-28) that the Torah undoubtedly refers to as these two false religions. The names of the supposed founder of Christianity and the word Mecca appear here at fifty-letter Equidistance intervals in the Hebrew Bible, found via the ELS Mathematical Concept.

And the rest of the Parashah teaches us that God's ten declarations to the Jewish people contain more than ten commandments, and anyone who continues to falsely believe that God gave us only ten commandments is mistaken. But anyone who truly studies the Torah will know that there are more than ten commandments; for example, the commandment to love the Eternal with all our heart, strength, and soul is not part of the ten; And the commandment to let the land rest for a year after seven years is also not part of God's Ten Proclamations; yet Israel was exiled to Babylon for 70 years for violating it; nor is the commandment not to marry people of other religions included in the Ten Proclamations; yet God killed 24,000 Jews in a single day for violating that commandment. From this last commandment, we know that true Jews are those born to Jewish mothers, regardless of who the father is. That commandment reads as follows:

"You shall not make marriages with them; you shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter to your son. For they will turn your son away from following Me, and your sons will serve other gods because of them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will destroy you quickly (Deut 7:3-4)."

So if the 10 declarations are not the only commandments (Deut 5:36), how many commandments are there in the Torah (Bible)? Counting all the prohibitions, covenants, decrees, and binding ordinances in the entire Torah, we find a total of 613 commandments; although a large number of these are valid only in Israel, and only when the Temple is there; however, there are several dozen others that apply everywhere and at all times. There are 39 commandments that, if violated, cause death not only to the human body but to the soul itself, severing it at its root. Even the ten declarations that are commonly counted as ten commandments contain more than ten commandments.

All those who try to convince themselves that there are only 10 commandments are deceiving themselves, and if they are leaders, they are lying to others. The reality is that the Torah is not only for personal application in our lives; what must be understood is that it is the constitution of the nation guided by God. It contains laws or commandments governing the entire development of the state; there are laws of litigation, laws against immorality, laws against crime, and royal decrees. And all these statutes or ordinances are commandments, both positive and negative.

Furthermore, it is essential to know that the laws or commandments of the Bible do not all apply equally to all inhabitants of the nation; any intelligent person should understand this reality. There are laws and commandments that apply only to priests, police officers, state officials, judges, and lawyers, among others. But there are more than one hundred commandments or laws that apply to everyone.

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THIS WEEK IN JEWISH HISTORY

On the 12th of Av in 1263, the famous debate between Nachmanides (Ramban) and a converted Jew named Pablo Cristiani began. The King of Spain authorized a religious discussion between Jews and Catholics to determine which of the two religions preached the truth.

Nachmanides accepted the challenge with great hesitation. He set only one condition for participating in the debate: that the king would guarantee him complete freedom of expression. In those Catholic countries and kingdoms, freely expressing contradictory points about the state religion was liable to accusations of heresy.

Nachmanides won the debate, but lost the war. He expressed certain truths that were painful to the Church. Although he was awarded 300 gold coins by the king, the Church ordered him to be tried for blasphemy. Thus, Nachmanides was forced to flee Spain for his life at the age of 72, despite the king's assurances. He spent the rest of his days in Jerusalem.

By Rabbi Shraga Shimon of Aish Ha'Torah, Adapted by Enerio Y. Benorinu

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Here’s a beautifully organized layout of the article on the 7 Aliyot of Parashat Va'Etchanan, with clear headings and structured sections for better readability.

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The 7 Aliyot of Parashat Va'Etchanan

Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

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The First Aliyah - Deuteronomy 3:23-4:4

In the first reading, Moses begged God to allow him to cross the Jordan River and see the other side. However, God was angry with Moses and would not listen, instructing him to never speak of the matter again. Moses blamed the Israelites for their punishment. God told Moses to climb to the top of Pisgah and look down upon the land. He instructed Moses to give Joshua his instructions and to provide him with strength and courage, as Joshua was to lead the people and assign them their inheritance of the land.

Moses then exhorted the Israelites to obey God's laws, adding nothing to them and taking nothing away, so that they might live to enter and occupy the land God was giving them. He noted that in the sin of Baal-Peor, God wiped out every person who followed Baal-Peor, while preserving those who clung to God. The first reading ends here.

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The Second Aliyah - Deuteronomy 4:5–40

In the second reading, Moses argued that faithfully observing the laws would demonstrate the Israelites' wisdom and discernment to other nations, as no other great nation had a god as close as God or laws as perfect as His. He urged the Israelites to remember the events they witnessed and teach them to their children: how they stood before God at Horev, where the mountain burned with fire, and God spoke to them, declaring the Ten Commandments.

Moses warned them not to make graven images or bow down to celestial bodies, as God assigned those things to other peoples. He reminded them that God took the Israelites out of Egypt to be His own people. Moses expressed that God was angry with him because of the Israelites and swore that Moses would not enter the land but would die east of the Jordan. He called upon heaven and earth to testify against the Israelites, warning that if they made carved images, God would scatter them among the peoples. However, when they sought God with all their heart and soul, they would find Him, for God is compassionate and will not forget the covenant made with their fathers.

Moses emphasized that the Lord alone is God, and they must observe His laws and commandments for their well-being in the land. The second reading concludes here.

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The Third Aliyah - Deuteronomy 4:41–49

In this reading, Moses set aside three cities of refuge on the east side of the Jordan for a murderer who unwittingly killed someone without hostility. The cities designated were Bezer among the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead among the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan among the Manassites. The third reading ends with Deuteronomy 4:49.

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The Fourth Aliyah - Deuteronomy 5:1–18 (or 5:1–22)

Moses summoned the Israelites, asking them to listen to the laws he proclaimed that day and to study and observe them faithfully. At Horeb, God made a covenant with them, speaking face to face from the fire on the mountain. Moses stood between God and the people to convey His words, as they were afraid of the fire.

God spoke the Ten Commandments, beginning with: "I, the Eternal, the Lord your God." The commandments include prohibitions against idolatry, false oaths, work on the Sabbath, and commands to honor parents, not to murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet.

The fourth reading concludes with the commandments and their significance.

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The Fifth Aliyah - Deuteronomy 5:19 (23)–6:3

In the fifth reading, God spoke these words to the entire congregation from the mountain, inscribing them on two stone tablets. The Israelites, hearing God's voice and seeing the burning mountain, asked Moses to listen and relay God's words. The reading emphasizes the importance of teaching these commandments to future generations.

The fifth reading concludes with Deuteronomy 6:3, introducing the Shema and V'ahavta, which affirm the oneness of God and the command to love Him wholeheartedly.

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The Sixth Aliyah - Deuteronomy 6:4–25

Moses conveyed God's instructions, emphasizing the Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." He instructed the Israelites to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength, and to teach these words diligently to their children.

Moses warned the Israelites not to forget God when they prospered in the land and to keep God's commandments. He reminded them of their history as slaves in Egypt and the miracles God performed to free them. The sixth reading concludes with Deuteronomy 6:25.

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The Seventh Aliyah - Deuteronomy 7:1-11

In the seventh reading, Moses instructed the Israelites that upon entering the land, they would dispossess seven nations and should show them no mercy. They were not to intermarry with them or worship their gods, as this would lead them away from the Eternal.

Moses emphasized that the Israelites were chosen by God, not for their numbers, but because of God's love and the covenant made with their ancestors. He reminded them that God is steadfast and repays those who reject Him. The reading concludes with Deuteronomy 7:9-11.

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Maftir - Va'Etchanan 7:9-11

"Know therefore and acknowledge that the Lord your God, He is the God, He is the faithful God, who watches over the covenant and Chesed for those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations..."

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How Many Mitzvot (Commandments) Are There in This Parashah?

According to Maimonides (Rambam):

• Positive Commandments: 11
• Negative Commandments: 15

That warriors shall not fear their enemies nor be frightened of them in battle
To know that there exists God Not to entertain the thought that there is any god but the Lord
Not to make a graven image, neither to make oneself nor to have made for oneself by others Not to bow down to an object of idolatry, even if that is not its normal way of worship
Not to worship an object of idolatry in its normal ways of worship Not to take an oath in vain
Not to do work on the Sabbath To honor one's father and mother
Not to kill an innocent person Not to kidnap any person of Israel; this is theft of a person.
Not to covet Not to desire."
To acknowledge God's Oneness To love God
To read the Shema twice daily To learn Torah and teach it
To bind tefillin on the head To bind tefillin on the arm
To fasten a mezuzah To fear God
To swear by God's Name Not to test the word of God

Not to make a covenant with the seven Canaanite nations

Not to have mercy on idolaters
Not to intermarry with idolaters

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The Weekly Makam

In the Weekly Maqam, Sephardi Jews each week base the songs of the services on the content of that week's parashah. For Parashah Va'etchanan, Sephardi Jews apply Makam Hoseni, it is a makam that expresses beauty, because this is the parashah where Moses repeats to the Israelites their history of receiving the Ten Commandments.

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The Haftarah

This parashah is read on Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat immediately after Tisha B'Av. The haftarah, Isaiah 40:1–26, speaks of comforting the Jewish people for their suffering.

Key Themes:

• Comfort and hope for Jerusalem.
• God's greatness and power.
• The call to prepare a way for God.

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What's the Connection Between the Parashah and the Special Shabbat?

Connection Between the Parashah and the Special Shabbat

The haftarah addresses laments from Tisha B'Av, offering comfort and hope. It echoes the themes of the parashah, emphasizing God's faithfulness and the importance of following His commandments.

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The haftarah answers laments read on Tisha B'Av from the book of Lamentations. Lamentations 1:2 and 9 complain that Jerusalem "has none to comfort her," "she has no comforter." In Isaiah 40:1, the haftarah answers, "Comfort, comfort My people, says your God." Lamentations 1:4 complains that "the ways of Zion mourn."

In Isaiah 40:3, the haftarah answers, "Clear in the wilderness the way of the Lord, make plain in the desert a highway for our God." Lamentations 1:6 complains that Zion's princes "are gone without strength before the pursuer."

In Isaiah 40:9 and 26, the haftarah answers, "Lift up your voice with strength, God is strong in power." Lamentations 4:22 hoped for Jerusalem that "the punishment of your iniquity is accomplished" and God "will no more carry you away into captivity." In Isaiah 40:2, the haftarah affirms, "Bid Jerusalem take heart, and proclaim to her, that her time of service is accomplished, that her guilt is paid off."

As well, the haftarah echoes the parashah. In the parashah in Deuteronomy 3:25, Moses pleads, "Let me go over, I pray, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly hill-country, and Lebanon." As if in answer, the haftarah rejoins in Isaiah 40:15–16, "the nations are as a drop of a bucket, . . . and Lebanon is not sufficient fuel, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for burnt-offerings."

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The Haftarah

This parashah is always read on the special Shabbat called Shabbat Nachamu, it is the Shabbat immediately after Tisha B'Av. Shabbat Nachamu ("Shabbat of comfort") takes its name from the first word of the haftarah for the parashah, Isaiah 40:1–26, which speaks of "comforting" the Jewish people for their suffering—נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ, עַמִּי‎, Nachamu Nachamu, Ami, "Be comforted, be comforted, My nation...." The haftarah is the first in the cycle of seven Haftarot of consolation after Tisha B'Av, leading up to Rosh Hashanah.

"God sits above the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers." 

Summary God told the prophet to comfort God's people and bid Jerusalem to take heart, as the city's guilt had been paid off. A voice in the wilderness called to clear the way and make a highway for God, for every valley will be lifted up, every mountain will be made low, and God's glory will be revealed to all. A voice proclaimed that all flesh is grass, its goodness like a flower of the field, which withers and fades; but God's word will stand forever. 

The herald of good tidings should go to the mountain and announce to the cities of Judah that God will come as a Mighty One to rule, as a shepherd that feeds the flock, gathers the lambs, carries them, and gently leads them. "Lift up your eyes on high, and see: Who has created these?" 

Who has held the waters in hand, measured the heavens, comprehended the earth, and weighed mountains in the balance? Who has counseled or instructed God? 

Nations are like a drop in a bucket, like dust in the balance, as nothing before God. Can one compare God to anything, to an idol that a woodworker carved? God sits above the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. 

God brings princes to nothing, makes the judges of the earth like nothing; scarcely are they planted, but God blows upon them, and they wither and blow away. To whom then to liken God? Lift up your eyes and see: The One who created the stars, called them by name, by the greatness of God's might and strong power, each one appears.

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Try this well-organized quiz based on Parasha Va'Etchanan to increase your knowledge on this Biblical Portion. The questions are categorized for clarity, and the answers are provided for easy reference.

Quiz on Parashat Va'Etchanan

Questions and Answers

Section 1: Key Concepts and Interpretations

1. "And I prayed to Hashem at that time." Why "at that time"?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 3:23 - Upon defeating Sihon and Og, whose lands were part of Eretz Canaan, Moses thought that perhaps Hashem had nullified the vow against his entry into the Land.

2. What characteristic is represented by the "strong hand" of the Eternal?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 3:24 - His willingness to forgive.

3. What does Ha'Levanon symbolize?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 3:25 - Ha'Levanon symbolizes the Beit Hamikdash, referring to the color "white" (lavan), that is, atoning for the Jewish people's sin.

4. What did the Eternal say to Yeshua after the Battle of Ai?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 3:28 - Joshua must lead the army into battle.

5. What will happen if the Jewish people do not properly fulfill the mitzvot?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 4:9 - The non-Jewish world will consider them fools.

Section 2: Historical Context and Consequences

6. How did the decree that Moses would not enter the Land even at his death affect him?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 4:22 - Even his remains were not buried in the Land.

7. What does the word v'noshantem imply?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 4:25 - The gematria of v'noshantem, 852, hints at the number of years until the first exile.

8. Why were the Jewish people exiled two years earlier than indicated by Moses' prophecy?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 4:25 - So that the rest of the prophecy, "that they would utterly perish," would not be fulfilled.

Section 3: Idolatry and Identity

9. "You will serve gods made by men." Is this literal?

   • Answer: Deuteronomy 4:28 - For the Jews who maintained their identity, the answer is No. This means they would serve others (Muslims and Christians) who serve idols like wooden cross and the Stone of Mecca. However, the answer is Yes for the disappeared tribes and for the Anousim of the Inquisition and other times. This also alludes to the fact that Jews forced to convert to Christianity and Islam would be servants of Christians and Muslims. The ELS concept confirms this through hidden prophetic meanings and patterns.

10. Why is the east called Mizrach in Hebrew?

    • Answer: Deut 4:41 - It is the direction from which the sun shines (Mizrach means to shine).

Section 4: Commandments and Teachings

11. "Keep the Shabbat day as I have commanded you." When had the Eternal previously commanded us to keep the Shabbat?

    • Answer: Deut 5:13 - Before the day of Matan Torah, at the test of Marah. (Shmot 15:25)

12. Where had the Jewish people first received the commandment to honor their parents?

    • Answer: Deut 5:16 - At Marah. (Shmot 15:25)

13. What is meant by "the Eternal, our God, the Eternal is One"?

    • Answer: Deut 6:4 - This means that the Eternal, who is currently our God, but is not [accepted as] the God of all the other nations, will eventually [be accepted as] the one and only God throughout the entire world.

14. What are the two meanings of loving the Eternal "with all your might"?

    • Answer: Deut 6:5 - 1) With all one possesses. 2) Whether the Eternal treats you with Chesed (kindness) or harshness.

15. How knowledgeable should one be in the Torah?

    • Answer: Deut 6:7 - If asked a question about the Torah, one should be able to answer quickly and clearly.

Section 5: Rituals and Observances

16. Where does the word Totafot come from?

    • Answer: Deut 6:8 - Tot means two in Caspi. Fot means two in Afriki. Together they refer to the four sections of the tefillin.

17. Who is eligible to swear in the name of the Eternal?

    • Answer: Deut 6:13 - One who serves the Eternal and reveres His name.

Section 6: Nation and Reward

18. What does it mean that the Jews are the "least nation"?

    • Answer: Deut 7:7 - Benei Yisrael is the most humble nation.

19. When someone serves the Eternal with love, how many generations receive the reward?

    • Answer: Deuteronomy 7:9 - 2,000 generations.

20. Why are the wicked rewarded in this world?

• Answer: Deuteronomy 7:10 - So that they will not be rewarded in the next world.

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Here’s a list of related key words and phrases for Parshat Va'Etchanan and its themes, teachings, and historical context:

Related Key Words and Phrases 

1. Parshat Va'Etchanan
2. Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
3. Moses pleads with God
4. Promised Land
5. Exodus from Egypt
6. Mount Sinai
7. Ten Commandments
8. Shabbat Nachamu
9. 613 commandments
10. Torah portion
11. Jewish teachings
12. Covenant of Mount Sinai
13. God's commandments
14. Dispersion of Jewish people
15. Influence of other religions
16. Roman religion
17. Muslim religion
18. Clinging to God
19. Prophecies of Moses
20. Cities of refuge
21. Idolatry
22. Jewish identity
23. Shema and V'ahavta
24. Tisha B'Av
25. Spiritual teachings
26. Judaism vs. other religions
27. Historical significance of Va'Etchanan
28. Maimonides commandments
29. Sefer ha-Chinuch
30. Weekly Makam
31. Haftarah for Va'Etchanan
32. Nachmanides debate
33. Jewish history
34. Religious freedom
35. Torah scroll
36. Spiritual fulfillment
37. God's eternal word
38. Divine commandments
39. Covenant renewal
40. Jewish laws and statutes

Additional Phrases for Context

• Understanding Va'Etchanan
• Lessons from Parshat Va'Etchanan
• Key themes in Deuteronomy
• Moses' final pleas
• Importance of remembering the Exodus
• God's voice at Mount Sinai
• Role of commandments in Jewish life
• Significance of Nachamu Shabbat
• Prophetic messages in the Torah
• Cultural impact of Judaism

The use of keywords and phrases can help improve search engine visibility for any content related to your selected subject, they can help your content to attract readers interested in the Themes and teachings.

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