Dvar Torah
What to do
(דברים לא:י- יב) וַיְצַו מֹשֶׁה אוֹתָם לֵאמֹר מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים בְּמֹעֵד שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה בְּחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת ... תִּקְרָא אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת ... הַקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם ...
And Moshe commanded him saying, at the end of seven years, on the holiday of the sabbatical year, on Chag HaSukkot... Call out this Torah... Gather the nation...
In this week’s Parasha we learn about the Mitzvah of Hakel. Once every seven years, the king calls all of B’nei Yisroel together and reads Sefer Devarim aloud for everyone to hear. The Torah tells us that this should be done on Sukkot after a Shemitta year.
Why specifically after a Shemitta year?
The Torah in its kindness and care for everyone gave this Mitzvah at a time that the farmers have not been working for a year. These farmers would, therefore, have time during this year to learn Torah and do extra Mitzvot. This would also allow them to be able to come to the Bet Hamikdash to be part of Hakel.
The question is, this Mitzvah was not just for farmers. Were there only farmers amongst the Jews? Were there no doctors, butlers, bakers, and candlestick makers?
Of course, this Mitzvah was not only given to farmers, rather it was given to teach us a lesson from the farmers. This lesson is for everyday life not just for the year of Hakel. We should remember that just like the farmer who has extra time and uses it to learn Torah and do Mitzvot, we too in our extra or free time should do the same. Every day that we do not come to school our day should start with Tefilah and learning Torah.
Shabbat Shalom!
Parsha Questions
1) Why did משה רבינו gather בני ישראל together on the day of his death? (דברים כט:ט. עין רש"י)
2) Who was gathered to listen to משה רבינו? List all that are named. (דברים כט:ט-י)
3) Who are the wood-cutters and water-drawers mentioned here? (דברים כט:י. עין רש"י)
4) In what order did בני ישראל stand before Hashem? (דברים כט:ט-י)
5) To whom was the promise made by Hashem, that the בני ישראל would inherit ארץ כנען? (דברים כט:יב) When was this promise made?
6) How can we guarantee that Hashem will bless us and give us more than enough of everything that we need? (דברים ל:ח-י)
7) What challenges stand in the way of us fulfilling the words and the Torah? Explain.
(דברים ל:יא-יד)
8) What/Who did Hashem choose as witnesses to the covenant between Him and בני ישראל? Why did Hashem choose them? (דברים ל:יט עין רש"י)
9) How old was משה when he spoke to the בני ישראל the last time? (דברים לא:ב)
10) Why was משה unable “to go out and come in”? (דברים לא:ב עין רש"י)
11) Who would be the leader of the בני ישראל when they crossed the ירדן? (דברים לא:ג)
12) Who carried the Holy Aron? (דברים לא:ט)
13) What is the מצוה of הקהל? (דברים לא:י-יג) Include in your answer:
a) who came?
b) to where?
c) who performed this מצוה?
d) when was it done?
e) why it was done?
14) The Torah says ְ והִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי מֵהֶם. What does this mean and what does it refer to? (דברים לא:יז ועד עיין רש"י)
15) What is the last מצוה of the Torah? (דברים לא:יט)
Classroom Check-in!
Questions about what we are learning in class
1) Who married Achsa? How did do this?
2) What was missing from the Negev?
3) What did Kalev give Achsa to help her with her water issue? (X2)
4) Who were the B’nei Kaini? Why did they move to the area of Shevet Yehuda?
5) Why did the Jewish people think it was a good idea to keep some of the Kina’ani people in their land?
Torah Math
In this week’s parasha the Torah tells us that we should listen to Hashem. We know that we cannot hear the voice of Hashem, however, if we decode the words we can see that listening to the Rabbis is like listening to Hashem Himself!
(דברים ל:י) "כּי תשמע בקול"
=
זה בקול דברי תלמידי חכמים
Each line has the numeric value of 988, check it out!!!
TORAH TRIVIA!
Super Stumper Question:
This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.
Answer to last week’s Question: Levi never brought Bikurim because they had no land. They were allowed to live in the public cities?
Question of the week: How is it that we would read from the Torah 5 consecutive day and it is not a long holiday?
Kollel Quiz
#1 Who Am I?
1. I am not excuse me.
2. I arouse you.
3. I include the thirteen.
4. Put your head down.
#2 Who Am I?
1. I am the head.
2. I am double.
3. After me, you blew it.
4. I am a birthday.
Submit this answer by clicking here
FOOD Section!
Can you guess what this recipe connects to this week’s Parsha?
Long Life Pizza
1/2 head cauliflower, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 egg
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
salt and ground black pepper to taste
Place cauliflower pieces through the feeding tube of the food processor using the grating blade; pulse until all the cauliflower is shredded.
Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add cauliflower, cover, and steam until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer cauliflower to a large bowl and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until cooled, about 15 minutes.
Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
Stir Italian cheese blend, parsley, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper into cauliflower until evenly incorporated. Pour mixture onto the prepared baking sheet; press and shape into a pizza crust.
Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
Note: This is a Shehakal Pizza!
