Kol Ramah

Parashat Va-et’hanan [Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11] features the Ten Commandments and the 1st paragraph of the Shema, to which we customarily refer as the Shema and Ve-ahavta. There are also a number of p’suqim [verses] which made their way into the liturgy. And there is still more. For example, the discerning reader/listener will note that part of the reading will seem familiar, due to the fact that it is the Tisha B’Av morning reading. Off hand, I believe this is the only time a Shabbat Torah Reading includes a Torah Reading for a special occasion earlier in the week.

Despite the richness of the parashah, we spent most of our time talking about Tisha B’Av, the Jewish national day of mourning, since we recorded Thursday afternoon. Near the end we worked in the parashah, discussing Moses’ final plea to God to be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

With Tisha B’Av now behind us, we look forward to Shabbat Nahamu [haftarah from Isaiah 40:1-26, which has its own riches]. We have progressed another major step toward the High Holidays, little more than seven weeks away. Shabbat Shalom!

Please note that we will not be recording next week. Our next scheduled Parashah Talk is for Re'eh, the week of August 8th. Stay tuned!

Josh Archibald (Gesher '26) interviews Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, president of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, in the studio of Radio Kol Ramah, Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.

This week is Shabbat Hazon, taking its name from the opening word of the Haftarah [Isaiah 1:1-27], the 3rd haftarah of admonition or rebuke before Tisha B’Av. The Torah reading is parashat D’varim [Deuteromonomy 1:1-3:22], the 1st parashah in Sefer Devarim [Book of Deuteronomy].

As Jeffrey Tigay outlines Deuteronomy in his JPS Torah Commentary, the parashah consists of a Prologue [1:1-5] and the beginning of the 1st Discourse [Deuteronomy 1:6-4:43], which will conclude in next week’s parashah. It seems an odd way to begin the book, so we used most of our time to situate the book in the context of the Torah but also in the context of other great speeches [Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and King’s I Have a Dream Speech]. The conversation meandered perhaps more that usual, even for us; we hope you like it! Shabbat Shalom!!

Great interview by Tess Kenter of Amy Skopp Cooper on Camp Ramah!

Parashat Matot-Masei [Numbers 30:2-36:13] is the double portion that concludes our reading of the Sefer B’midbar [Book of Numbers]. As befits a double portion, the longest Torah reading of the year, it is filled with a variety of material, including the annulment of oaths and vows made by women at the beginning of Matot [Numbers 30:2-17] and the itinerary of wilderness journeys [Numbers 33:1-49] at the beginning of Masei, among other passages of great interes. A perhaps minor note about this wilderness itinerary is the associated command [33:2] to record them in writing. We spent almost our entire conversation on the phenomenon of writing in the ancient world and why this particular passage required a written record. We hope you enjoy it. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Pinchas [Numbers 25:10-30:1] has a lot of interesting material, such as the denoument to the Pinchas episode from last week [25”10-18], the daughters of Zelophechad receiving the inheritance from their father [27:1-11], and the holodiay readings [28:1-30:1], But since this Shabbat is July 4th, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we devoted the show to the religious significance of that event and how we might mark the day religiously. Occasionally we made connections to the parashah as well! Shabbat Shalom and Happy Birthday America!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky.

The double parashah Chukat-Balak [Numbers 19:1-25:9] is rich with interesting material, including the red heifer [Numbers 19], Moses & The Rock [Numbers 20:1-13], the prophet Balaam and the scene with the talking donkey [Numbers 22-24], and the first half of the story about Pinchas [Numbers 25:1-19]. We find it difficult to pass up any opportunity to discuss Moses & The Rock, and it is to that story that we devoted most of our conversation.

This morning Jeremy’s grandson, Eliyahu Aviv, was welcomed into the covenant of Abraham. Mazal Tov! Shabbat Shalom!!

Parashat Korach [Numbers 16-18] is described by Jacob Milgrom as “Encroachment on the Tabernacle”. We know it better as the multi-layered account of a series of rebellions, the best known of which is Korach’s rebellion. However, the discerning reader can identify relatively easily 2 or 3 more, each distinguished by a different rebel or set of rebels, and a different object. Korach himself is unhappy that Moses has received the leadership position and Aaron the priesthood; he makes the claim that all the people is holy. We discuss the character of Korach and how we best understand him: as a demagogue, as a person with a legitimate claim, or perhaps some mixture of the two.

The good news this week, and the reason for the delay of our podcast, is the birth yesterday of Jeremy’s [and Amy’s] first grandchild, a boy. Mazal tov to both sets of grandparents [Ira and Sheri Balsam], and of course the parents, Didi and Ariel Kalmanofsky.

The main story in parashat Sh’lach [Numbers 13:1-15:41] is the tragedy of the spies. In some ways, this sin, the failure of the Israelites to recognize that their destiny is to conquer the land no matter what the odds, is their greatest sin. For the rabbis, there seems to be little question, for they associate the sin of the spies with Tisha B’Av, the worst day on the Jewish calendar, whereas the sin of the Golden Calf is associated with the 17th of Tammuz, a prelude to Tisha B’Av.

The verb la-tur, “to seek out, spy out, explore”, which is repeated many times througout the narrative of the spies, is picked up in the final section of the parashah, which we know as the third paragraph of the Sh’ma. There, the tzitzit, the ritual fringes, are intended to prevent Israelites from being led astray by their hearts and eyes. In a sense, this paragraph comes to remind us that the very act of la-tur, seeking out, is fraught with danger. Whether the initial command comes from God or Mose, or even the people themselvies is, perhaps immaterial. It is the command to la-tur, to scout out, without the requisite controls suggested by the tzitzit, which dooms the spies. We are often led astray. God provides the means to withstand the temptation.

Now that war seems to have resumed, our thoughts and prayers are with those defending the United States as part of the United States Armed Forces and those defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. May peace soon descend on the region and all other troubled areas on earth. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat B-ha’alotcha [Numbers 8:1-12:16] is a particularly rich parasha, with passages about, among other things, the menorah, the second Passover for those unable to make the Passover sacrifice in Nisan, the trumpets whose blasts would summon the people to act in certain prescribed ways, and various complaints by Moshe and the people whose resolution required divine intervention. Our conversation focused on the second Passover [9:1-14] and the trumpets [10:1-10]. Feel free to leave comments below. Shabbat Shalom!