Torah Portion

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God's Covenant
Defines Our Relationship

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EVERYDAY

between God and the Jewish people is
a duty and commitment, an obligation
and responsibility that includes every
generation of Jews. It is a treaty entered
into by that generation on behalf of all
members of the Jewish nation.
The timeless nature of this covenant
between God and His nation is further
emphasized by the recurrence through-
out
this Torah portion, particularly in
his week's Torah portion
regard to the commandments, of the
speaks of the Jewish people
standing before God to enter Hebrew word hayom (the day or
today). Time and again, in no less than
into a brit (covenant) with
13 places within this relatively short
Him.
reading, the word hayom
In just 40 verses, we have
appears.
in capsule form the basic mes-
Just as those Jews of
sage of the entire book of
Moses' generation accepted
Deuteronomy. The Jewish peo-
the contract and obligated
ple enter into this covenant
themselves to God on "the
and become "God's nation;"
day" of the covenant, we,
and God is acknowledged as
too, remain obligated and
our God and King if we but
commanded "today." Each
keep His commandments.
day as it comes becomes the
On the other hand, if we
"today" of the covenant and
refuse to abide by this
covenantal obligation, exile
RABBI EL IEZER expands our obligation to -
God and His to us. Each day
and suffering will result.
COHE N
as it comes is an opportunity
Finally, though, the Torah
Special to
tells us that ultimately we
The Jewish News to reaffirm and revitalize our
relationship to God — or,
- will repent and return to
on the other hand, each day
God and this reconciliation
as it comes offers us the choice to
will again renew our relationship with
attempt to abrogate and to deny the
God.
commitment made by generation after
The opening verses (Deuteronomy
generation of our ancestors.
29:9-10) emphasize that "all of you, the
The challenge of the covenant is a
leaders of your tribes, your elders, your
continual one, day after day through-
officials, every Jewish man, your chil-
out Jewish history, "... See, I have put
dren, your women and the convert ...
before you today life and goodness or
from the wood chopper to the water
death
and evil (Deuteronomy 30:15) ...
drawer" — in short, every single Jew
Choose
life."
has committed himself to this contract
with God.
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of
Although this covenant was entered
Congregation Or Chadash.
into at a particular time and place by
Jews living then, the verse explicitly
states, "And not only with you do I
establish this covenant and this oath,
with those standing here with us today
before the Lord God, but also with
Adat Shalom Synagogue will hold a
those who are not with us today."
new Shabbat morning minyan-
(Deuteronomy 29:13-14) This covenant
"Minyan Chadash" – a traditional but
somewhat shortened Shabbat morning
service which will begin at 10 a.m. on a
monthly basis beginning Oct. 3, in the
chapel.
What is a brit (covenant) and
Conducted by Rabbi Danny Nevins,
why is our relationship with
the Minyan Chadash will offer congre-
God established as a covenantal
gants, including children, a wider
one? What will cause our repen-
opportunity for direct participation. It
tance is exile and what process
is an alternative to the main service,
or progression is described in
where prayers will be interspersed with
verses 30:1-10 of Deuteronomy?
discussion and study.
What do the verses that "the
For information, call the Adat
commandment is close" mean?
Shalom Synagogue office, (248) 851-
(Deuteronomy 30:11-14.)
5100.

Shabbat Nitzavim:
Deuteronomy 29:9-
30:20; Isaiah 61:10-
63:9.

T

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