Read & Listen

Sometimes, the Torah reveals its deeper meanings to us through elaborate interpretation and subtle analysis. At other times, Torah speaks to us directly across the millennia, with little need for mediation. Our passage this week falls in this latter category ...

As some of you may know, those three Hebrew words — V’akhalta v’savata u’veirakhta — comprise the proof text for the בִּרְכָּת הַמָזוֹן Birkat Ha’mazon, known in English as the “Grace After Meals.” Birkat Ha’mazon is a very long series of blessings of gratitude that are meant to be recited — and are often sung boisterously — after every meal.

The portion of Va’et’khanan contains some of the best-known and important passages in the Torah. Moses recounts for the Children of Israel the events of almost 40 years earlier, when they stood at Mount Sinai, and repeats The Ten Commandments for them.

The English name of the fifth and final book of the Five Books of Moses is Deuteronomy. “Deuteronomy” is a Greek term that means “repetition of the law.” This is an appropriate name, as the entire book — save the very end that describes Moses’ passing — is a recounting by Moses of the three previous books of the Torah.

As many of you know, my wonderful stepfather Herbert Krasnow passed away peacefully last week at the age of 99. I want to honor his memory by sharing a few words with you here.

As we reach the end of the book of Bamidbar, the Children of Israel have arrived at the banks of the River Jordan. The Promised Land is just on the other side.

As we approach the end of Sefer Bamidbar, the book of Numbers, the children of Israel have conquered lands on the east side of the Jordan, the plains of Moab, and are encamped there. They are anticipating completing their long journey and crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

I dedicate this teaching to my parents, Dr. David Kligler and Dr. Deborah Kligler Krasnow, of blessed memory. My father was always completely supportive of my mother’s academic and professional career. He encouraged her to finish her dissertation before they started a family. My mother’s doctorate in sociology, completed in 1953, studied the effect of working women on the family.

In this week’s Torah portion, Balak, the foreign prophet Balaam is hired by King Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites. Balak fears that the Israelites will encroach on his territory, and he pays Balaam a huge sum in order to bring God’s curses down on his foes.

The Israelites are journeying towards the Jordan River and pass through the territory of King Balak of Moab. Balak is terrified and hires the prophet Balaam to lay a curse upon the Israelites. Three times Balaam climbs up to a promontory from which he can survey the Israelite encampment. Each time, instead of a curse, only words of blessing issue from his lips.