Haazinu & Ha-Berachah: The final chapters of Deuteronomy contain the Song of Moses, blessings to the tribes (except Simeon), and the death of Moses. Who wrote these chapters and when? Who is the prophet likened unto Moses? Was there once a shrine of Jehovah at Moses's tomb on Mount Nebo? Does El Shaddai mean "god…
Vayelekh: a chapter rich with farewell speeches, a sacred scroll, and signs that the pen traditionally attributed to Moses may not have been his own. We begin with a third-person narrator introducing Moses—not as the author, but as the subject. Ross highlights the layered voices within the text and the key moment where “this Torah”…
In a world where foundational values are being challenged, this week’s episode opens with a reflection on what it truly means to stand for the covenant—a theme at the heart of Nitzavim. Moses gathers the entire community of Israel—leaders, strangers, and even future generations—for a solemn covenant renewal ceremony. This parsha warns of hidden sins,…
Ki Tavo opens with first fruits and the ancient creed, “My father was a wandering Aramean,” then moves to tithes for the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. Finally, the covenant ceremony at Ebal and Gerizim resumes, raising thorny questions about the role of the Levites, the division of the tribes, and why…
Ki Tetze - one of the Torah’s most packed and complex portions. From the unsettling opening law about the captive woman to the closing command to remember Amalek, we explore how these ancient statutes mix the strange and the sacred. Together, we unpack difficult and sometimes puzzling texts on war, family, justice, and compassion, asking…
Shofetim (Deut 16:18–21:9) - The portion begins with the appointment of judges and officials—a settled bureaucracy that seems far removed from the wilderness setting of Moses. From there, we explore capital cases and curses, the limits of priestly authority, and the role of the prophet. At the center lies the striking law of the king…