Weekly Torah Portion: Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20)
In this Torah portion, Moses describes the Covenant between God and the Israelites, urging the Israelites to uphold the Covenant and honor the Torah so that they may be rewarded with life in the Land of Israel. Read an extensive summary on My Jewish Learning
Related D’var Torah
“It helps to find activities meaningful to us as we all struggle to clean our spiritual slates for another new year…” – Jay Jacobs in 2005. read the full drash
“Are we listening with our hearts? Do we feel the words in our mouth as they roll off our tongue? or do we just let them fall out?…” – Angela Brown in 2002 read the full drash
“God… uses the Hebrew word Shuv, as in tshuva, repentance, return, turning, self-reflection- the assignment Jewish tradition gives us during this month of getting ready. When we return or turn to God, then God will turn to us, will take us back in love.” – Rabbi Lisa Edwards in 2001. read the full drash
“In this time of year, when we are so aware of time passing, may we open our hearts to God and one another…” Rabbi Lisa Edwards in 2000. read the full drash
Torah Verse of the Week*
Then God your God will open up your heart and the hearts of your offsping to love God your God with all your heart and soul, in order that you may live. (Parashat Nitzavim, Deuteronomy 30:6)
Haftarah verse of the week – in memory of former Prime Minister/former President of Israel, Shimon Peres
Pass through, pass through the gates!
Clear the road for the people;
Build up, build up the highway,
Remove the rocks!
Raise a banner over the peoples!
[Isaiah 62:10]
Other Suggested Readings
Where do Jews get their strength? It comes from within through our strong morality, Torah study and self-reflection in prayer, says Rabbi Heather Miller in her commentary on Nitzavim-Vayeilech. Read the article
‘Writing Women Into the Torah’ by Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses for The Torah: A Women’s Commentary’ is the suggested weekly reading. Rabbi Cohler-Esses argues that women’s voices must be included in the sacred discussion because: “If women exclude themselves from that process, the full power, relevancy, and truth of the Torah are diminished.” – Read from our Telephone Torah Study Archive
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*Torah Verse of the Week is chosen by the Torah class during Tuesdays’ studies with Rabbi Lisa Edwards. Check out when our next Torah Study takes place
