Our special guest this week is Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein. Rabbi Rothstein received his ordination from Yeshiva University and a PhD in Midrash from Harvard University. He has previously served as a communal rabbi and educator and he is the author of We're Missing the Point: What's Wrong with the Orthodox Jewish Community and How to Fix It and of two works of Jewish-themed fiction, Murderer in the Mikdash and Cassandra Misreads the Book of Samuel.
This week's Torah portion- Parashat Ha'azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52)- features a prophetic poem which foretells the future of the Jewish people. Moses begins the oracular poem by calling the sky and the earth to listen to his prophetic warnings and he tells the story of how Israel has strayed from the ways of the lord, contrasting God's kindness and justness with Israel's corruption and tendency towards sin. He then stresses that following the misfortunes that will befall them due to their sinning, there will be a time when God will reconcile with his people and avenge their enemies. The Parasha concludes with God instructing Moses to climb up to mount Nevo from which he will see the Promised Land before his death.
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