Parshat Bereshit; Genesis 1:1 - 6:8 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger

With this week’s celebration of Simchat Torah, our holiday season is officially over. After almost a month of intensive introspection and teshuvah, repentance has been capped by a week of overwhelming joy and celebration during Sukkot culminating in the wonder of Simchat Torah. We end the cycle of reading the five books of Moses and begin again on this holiday of rejoicing in our Sefer Torah, our Tree of Life.

As we read the last verses of Deuteronomy and re-roll the scroll to the opening verses of Genesis we see the entire Torah, the entire story of our people pass before our eyes. In these moments, as history rewinds, our rejoicing deepens and as we know that ahead lays before us this unfolding story once again. Once again, to be studied, read, chanted and savored. Our story, the Jewish people’s story once again to be lived week in and week out.

The fact that we can begin again has great meaning. We have gone through the process of purification from our sins. We have celebrated the overflowing bounty that God grants to us. Then and only then we can start over—renewed and refreshed and ready to read of our beginnings. Thus on Shabbat Bereshit when we read the accounts of the creation of the cosmos and humanity our own hope overflows. For in the ensuing weeks we have been re-created in the image of God just as we read about in Genesis. “And God created human being in God’s image, male and female in the image of God, did God create them. (Gen1:27).

And so we have been remade, fashioned again in the ongoing creation that is our human saga.

So too the story of Genesis acknowledges our human frailties. Soon again the story shows our ability to be obstinate and stiff necked as we human beings transgress against God and our fellow human beings. Here we have just atoned for our sins on Yom Kippur and the story of our Torah reminds us that temptation is at every turn. That temptation is made evident in these stories. It certainly was for Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden as they ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They were expelled for their violation of God’s command. And for their son Cain who murdered his brother.

Can we read these stories in Genesis and not recall that just a few days ago we resolved to throw off the burdens of our sins? Can we not recall that we just confessed to God and resolved to God and our fellow human beings to be stronger and wiser when confronted the next time around?

These stories are our next time around.

We are reading them in this new yearly cycle. Their message should be clearer to us having just gone through our own purging of our sins.
And so the stories of Genesis reach out to us to remind us to stick to the path we vowed on Yom Kippur—to live a life filled with mitzvot, free from sin, free from fear and full of faith. As we begin the Torah stories again on this Shabbat may we remember our vow and be inspired to live holy lives.

Parshat Haazinu; Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger

This is the second to last portion in the entire Torah. It is in the form of poetry and is considered Moses parting words to the People Israel before he climbs Mt. Nebo and dies.

Interesting that part of this passage is read aloud at funerals just as we anticipate Moses’ own death. Verse four opens up the prayer known as the Tzduk Hadin. “God is sure our immovable Rock. All God’s work is upright.” This statement is meant not only to remind the Children of Israel of God’s strength and stability but that all of God’s reach is for goodness. Rashi taught that this verse meant that God’s judgment is exact and fair and while God rewards the righteous even if it is slow in coming, God also rewards whatever good there is even in those who act wrongly.

Clearly, Moses is tired. He knows that the Children of Israel will stray yet again from the commandments and the covenant. His patience seems worn thin. He says, “Corruption is not God’s, the blemish is God’s children.” One can hear the aggravation in his voice. He is clearly a leader who needs to step down. He tired and it shows.

Yet always the leader, Moses also tries to lift up the people. Reminding them that they are precious to God. He reminds them that they are a unique and special treasure to God. Moses reminds them that God has protected them and kept them safe throughout their journey in the wilderness.

Moses is honest in his assessment though. Moses recalls the disappointments and anger God felt as the Children of Israel sinned. A significant number of verses of the poem are dedicated to recalling the wrath and angry consequences of God. “I shall hide My face from them and see what their end will be for they are a generation of reversals, children whose upbringing is not in them.” (v.20)

Moses concludes the poem on a positive note reminding Israel that in the end God and the people will be harmonious. “I put to death and I bring life, I struck down and I will heal…” The song guarantees Israel’s survival even though there were periods of difficulty and consequences in their relationship.

Moses’ parting shot is difficult to listen to. It isn’t warm and fuzzy—but rather painfully recounts the relationship between Adonai and the Israelites. The poem doesn’t gloss over God’s anger, nor the Children of Israel’s idolatry. But it does assert that the covenant will be eternal and the relationship between God and the Israelites will be made whole.

Is this recounting the past or a poem of prediction about the future of the relationship? Perhaps we ought to read it as both. Clearly, there have been ups and downs in the forty years since the liberation from Egypt. The relationship between God and the Israelites hasn’t always been easy. But it is enduring. Ultimately, that is the message that is the prediction as well. Even the next phase of Jewish history during Joshua’s leadership and the conquering of the Promised Land will be troubled with times that God looks favorably upon Israel and times when Israel disappoints God by pursuing other deities.
This interrupts the communion with God and the covenant but it doesn’t sever it.

And so in the unfolding moments of Torah a lesson about the willingness of God to stick close to the people of Israel. The despite our ups and downs we are bound together in a unique and powerful way. This song/poem was sung aloud to all the people. Moses reminds them that the words of Torah are their life. And so it is ours.