Defining a People

Parshat Re'eh

Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17

Synopsis

Moses tells the people that he has set before them a blessing and a curse - a blessing if they obey God's commandments and a curse if they choose disobedience. The choice is given to Israel. In order to possess the Land, the people must follow the laws established by God.

Moses continues his speech to the people detailing all the laws the people must observe. First, they must destroy the worship sites of foreign gods. The Israelites must then establish a permanent and central worship site. They may slaughter and consume meat in their settlements, but they are not to eat of the tithes set aside for the sacrifice.

The people are twice commanded in this portion to consume no blood of the animals they slaughter.

Moses admonishes the people to be wary of false prophets who might try to lure them into worshipping other gods. The penalty for such worship is death.

Moses reiterates the laws of kashrut to the people.

Moses instructs the people to put aside a tenth part of what they harvest and the firstlings of their herds and flocks as tithes. These are to be consumed at the central sanctuary. If the people live too far away from the sanctuary, money equal to the tithe is to be brought there in place of the actual harvest. They must then purchase food and provisions for a celebration before God.

A portion of the tithes brought by the Israelites is to be used to support the Levites, the orphaned, and the widowed. Israel is to observe a Sabbatical year every seventh year. Laws concerning Hebrew slaves are repeated.

The portion closes with Moses detailing the observance of the three pilgrimage festivals: Feast of Unleavened Bread - Passover; Feast of Weeks - Shavuot; and the Feast of Booths - Sukkot.

Synopsis courtesy of Teaching Torah, by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Barbara Binder Kadden

For your Shabbat table:

• In Parshat Re'eh, Moses teaches the Israelites that they should be different from those around them and not copy their ways - they are not to worship other gods and they are to eat differently than their neighbors, observing the laws of kashrut. What are some ways a Jewish home is different from other homes? What makes your home a Jewish home?
• Some commentators have written that the purpose of maintaining kashrut is hygiene; others say it is to achieve holiness. What do you think?
• Rules are detailed telling the Israelites to support people in need - the Torah says widows and orphans, but we can take that to mean anyone who is in need of help and support. What are some ways you and your family help others in need?
• What would you be willing to give up in order to provide food, clothing, and shelter for others?

This week's g-dcast - a music video on Re'eh from Israel!