We sometimes forget to bless God for the simple things that He does for us. This week we are reminded not to take anything for granted.

The Torah wants us to remember the past but to work in building a future. That is why Tu B'Av comes 6 days after Tisha B'Av. As long as we continue as Jews, we have won.

The second paragraph of the Shema emphasizes that we have a communal responsibility to help. It is not enough that we are personally spiritual but that we are communally spiritual.

We are commanded to love the stranger in our midst because we were strangers in Egypt. As long as the stranger accepts our societal norms then we are required to love them.

One of the hardest things for us to be grateful with everything is going well. We bless our food before we eat and are hungry but more importantly, we bless it after when we are satiated.

Yesterday was the saddest day of the Jewish year, the 9th of Av, when we remember the disasters that befell us on that day. Six days later we celebrate the 15th of Av, when we work to have marriages and build the future. That is the essence of our lives. Remember the past to build a better future.

The 2 versions of the 10 Commandments tell us what the true purpose of God taking us out of Egypt. It was to be a light unto the nations. That we should show the world how to lead an ethical & moral life, individually & as a nation.

One of the most important lessons that we learn from this week's portion is the transfer of power to the next generation. But for that transfer to take place we have to teach the next generation how to conduct themselves.

Moses stresses the sin of the spies because they did not believe that we would be able to overcome all the obstacles to liberate the Land of Israel. Lewis and Clark were sent by President Jefferson, and they gave a different report. It will be hard but we and & will be able.

The Book of Deuteronomy opens with Moses going over the history of the Jews in the Wilderness. This was to teach us to learn from our mistakes. Great leaders learn from their mistakes.