When the Israelites were traveling through the wilderness, they were a cohesive group which was always close to God. In Deuteronomy, they are about to enter the larger territory of the Promised Land, and the people will spread out. This part of the journey confronts the reality of secular living. The Torah anticipates that people need a way to connect. The synagogue today is our modern version of how we connect with the sacred and with the community. Our connection to the Jewish community continues with the rituals we observe, such as observing the High Holidays.

The text of this podcast is available on our blog.
If you like this podcast, you might enjoy the book Biblical Origins: The Political Intent of the Bible's Writers, by renowned Bible scholar Dr. S. David Sperling.