Our guest this week is Rabbi Deborah Silver, leader of the Shir Chadash congregation in Metairie, New Orleans. Rabbi Silver was ordained as a rabbi by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles and holds a master's degree in Hebrew studies from Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University. Before moving to Shir Chadash, Rabbi Silver served as assistant rabbi at Adat Ari El Synagogue in Valley Village, CA. Prior to her ordination, she practiced and taught law in London.
In this Week's Torah Portion – Parashat Re'eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) – Moses continues speaking to the people of Israel right before he passes away. Moses asks them to recite certain blessings and curses on Mount Grizzim and Mount Ebal after they enter Israel. He demands that they destroy all remnants of idolatry from the Promised Land. He then asks them to choose a city which will host the Holy Temple, and they are forbidden from offering sacrifices anywhere else. The Parasha also discusses false prophets, kashrut, the sabbatical year, and charity. Our discussion focuses on the opening of the portion and on the significance of the command re’eh (see before you) throughout the Torah.
Our Past discussions of parashat Re’eh:
Rabbi Ben Elton on Shemitat Kessafim, the law that forbids demanding debt following a sabbatical year.
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg on the idea that mortality can lead us to despair or to be inspired
Rabbi Bradley Sharvit Artson on the role of the interesting ceremony on Mount Grizzim and Mount Ebal
