Next week we change our prayers to reflect the fact that God is our sovereign.

One of the most famous and important statements in this week's portion is the statement that the Torah is not in Heaven. That means that we have been given the tools to interpret the Torah. God wants us to use our abilities to make the world a better place.

Being humble does not mean being docile. It means to strive to do something but being aware that we need God's help in accomplishing our goal.

God has invested in us talents and it is up to us to use them for the good. It is in our hands. We are not fated, we can change our future.

The commandment to keep accurate weights and measures in business comes before the commandment to destroy Amalek. The meaning is simple. Unethical business practices will destroy society from within. That is when Amalek strikes.

The Torah is clear that we are obligated to respect the dignity of all people. That is why we are commanded to pay our workers when it is their payday. The basis is that all people were created in the image of God.

When comparing the Torah model of society and the American we find an interesting concept. The Torah speaks of obligations, but within them are rights. The American model speaks of rights but within them obligations. The two go hand in hand. Without one we don't have the other.

The Torah is for a constitutional monarchy. It places restrictions on the king and reminds him that he is not above the law.

The pursuit of justice is one of the most important commandments of the Torah. Justice has to be administered equally to all and must be blind to the social or economic status of those who come before the court.

The idea of the Sabbatical Year is for a social reset. To teach us that we have to help our fellows know how to make a living and to train them to do so.