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Parashat Ekev July 27, 2013

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Candle lighting time for Friday, July 26, 2013, 8:03 p.m.

Parashat Ekev

20 Av, 5773/July 27, 2013
Triennial Cycle Year III: Deut. 10:12-11:25
Humash Etz Hayim, page 1048
Haftarah: Isaiah 49:14-51:3, page 1055

  1. (10:12-22) The conclusion of Moses’ second speech to Israel, a warning to “fear the Lord your God and walk in all His ways.”
  2. (11:1-12) A review of the miracles God did for Israel in the wilderness, and a speech in praise of the goodness of the Land that they will soon inherit.
  3. (11:13-25) The second paragraph of the Shema, tying the bounty of the land to Israel’s faithfulness to the covenant, followed by an additional exhortation to keep the Torah and its commandments.

 

DRASH

Weakness of Attitude Becomes Weakness of Character*

And now Israel what does the Lord your God ask from you other than to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all of His Ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul. (Deut. 10:12)

A person should view himself as someone hired out to work for another person for a specific period of time. When such a person completes one task, he approaches the employer and asks, “What should I do next?” This should be our attitude in relationship to the Almighty. When you finish one mitzvah, you should immediately look for opportunities to do another mitzvah. This attitude can be seen in this verse: And now Israel — at every present moment, ask yourself the question, “What can I do now? What does the Almighty ask of me at the present time?” (Chofetz Chayim)

What does the Lord your God ask from youWhat makes God the Lord your God? What good deeds have you performed that you may be worthy of having God referred to as your God? That is the question that God asks of you. (Rabbi Naphtali of Ropshitz)

And it shall be, if you indeed heed my commands (v’hayah im shamo·a) with which I charge you today to love the Lord and to worship Him with all your heart and with all your being, I will give the rain in its season(Deut. 11:13-14)

According to Leviticus Rabbah 11:7, the word v’hayah, and it shall be, connotes joy wherever it occurs in the biblical text. According to the joy and a person’s yearning for fulfilling the commandments, so one merits hearing, attaining, and fulfilling them. And it shall be, if you indeed heed my commands…If you receive the commandments in joy, by means of this you will listen to my commandments… to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul. The reward of a commandment is a commandment. By means of the beauty and the joy of the commandment comes complete fulfillment of the commandment. And just this is the preparation for performing the commandment and the reason why we are commanded to recite a blessing before doing a commandment, (Sefat Emet, Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Gur)

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. (Victor Frankl)
*Albert Einstein

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CBD Photo Directories are in – expanded pick up times!

Lulav & Etrog Orders – Deadline to order is August 9th

Order Honeygrams – Deadline to order is August 18th

CBD Board of Director’s Vacancy

Jewish Youth Education

Mitzvah a Month

Minyan – Sunday 9:30 am & Monday – Thursday 7:00 p.m.

UPCOMING SERVICES

Tot Shabbat – July  27th 11:15 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, August 4: Hazak – Outdoor Sculpture Walk – 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, August 4, 2013 – Men’s Club Meeting – 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, August 10: Book Discussion Group – 1:30 -3:00 p.m.

Monday, August 12: Career Havurah – 7:30 – 8:30 p.m

Sunday, August 18: Electronic Recycling Event – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 18: A Golden Opportunity to Check Out CBD – 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, August 23: BBQ and Barchu – 6:00 p.m.

COMMUNITY

South Bay Jewish Girl Scouts

Friday, August 16th – Sunday August 18th – Grief and Growing – A healing weekend. View Flyer