Weekly Torah Commentary

Moses and Joshua possessed leadership characteristics that we continue to look for in our leaders today.

The commandments to destroy the seven Canaanite nations are perhaps best understood as a later generation's struggle with idolatry.

The commandment to gather every seven years for a communal Torah reading reinforces the spirit of unity and commitment among the people.

The many commandments in Judaism relating to remembering both positive and negative experiences motivate us to work towards redemption.

The prohibition against encroaching on your neighbor's land teaches us that our own expansion and success must not compromise the success of others.

True justice balances the needs of a whole group, rather than just the individual.

The Torah takes care to limit the power of both the kingship and the priesthood, the formal institutions of leadership and governance in ancient Israel.

Moses instructs the Israelites regarding idolatry, false prophets, clean and unclean foods, tithes, freeing slaves, and the pilgrimage festivals.

Parashat Re'eh calls our attention to our ability to choose the directions of our lives.

When a member of our community becomes poor we must restore his/her dignity as well as money.