In this week’s Torah reading, Va’etchanan, Moses continues his attempt to impress upon the Israelites the importance of following G‑d’s commandments, the rewards which will result from obeying God’s words, and the punishments they will incur if they neglect to do so. Moses recounts the story of the giving of Torah at Mount Sinai, and repeats the Ten Commandments. Moses designates cities of refuge. This portion also contains the Shema.

Moses recounts how he pleaded with God to allow him entry into Israel. God refused this request, but instructed Moses to climb a mountain from where he would see the Promised Land. Moses enjoins the people to follow God’s law, and never to add to or detract from it. Moses uses the Baal Peor incident to demonstrate that those who remained faithful to God survived and thrived.

Moses implores the Israelites to treasure the Torah, praising its wisdom, its righteous and just precepts, and the closeness to God it affords. He admonishes them to never forget the day when God gave them the Torah, and vividly describes that awesome event, enjoining them to recount that day’s events to their children and grandchildren. He then focuses on the divine revelation, reminding them that God did not appear as any image or form. Worshipping graven images, Moses warns, will result in national exile and decimation. But even when exiled, God will not forsake His people, and eventually they will repent and return to God. This section concludes with Moses extolling the Israelites’ uniqueness: the only nation personally delivered by God from bondage, and the only people to whom God revealed Himself.

Moses designates three cities of refuge on the eastern side of the Jordan River. These cities provided refuge for an individual who inadvertently murdered another.

Moses repeats the Ten Commandments, reminding the Israelites that the Sinai covenant was not limited to those who were physically present at Mount Sinai.

Moses describes the fright which gripped the nation following the revelation on Sinai. The leaders of the tribes approached Moses and pleaded that he be the intermediary to transmit G‑d’s words to them, and G‑d agreed.

This section begins with the first section of the Shema prayer. This paragraph contains the fundamental mitzvot of belief in G‑d’s unity, love of G‑d, tefillin, mezuzah and Torah study. The section continues with G‑d’s promise to give the Israelites a land filled with bounty and spoils. Moses admonishes the people to never forget the Creator who provided them with this wealth. Moses instructs the nation what to respond to their children who might inquire why they observe all the commandments: “We were slaves in Egypt, and G‑d took us out in order that we serve Him, so that we could reap the rewards for doing so.”

The Israelites are directed to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan along with their idols, and the prohibition against intermarriage is discussed.

Parashá de Vaetjanan 15 Av, 5785 / Agosto 9, 2025

Lectura dela Torá : Vaetjanan, Deutronomio 3:23 -7:11

Haftarah:  Isaiah 40:1-2

Moshé le cuenta al Pueblo Judío cómo le imploró a Di-s que le permita ingresar a la Tierra de Israel. Di-s se negó, pero le indicó que ascienda una montaña para ver la Tierra Prometida.

Continuando con su “repaso de la Torá”, Moshé describe el Éxodo desde Egipto y la Entrega de la Torá, declarándolos eventos sin precedentes en la historia de la humanidad. “¿Alguna vez ocurrió este gran evento, o algo similar alguna vez se oyó? ¿Alguna vez un pueblo escuchó la voz de Di-s hablando desde el fuego…y vivió? … Tú viste, para saber, que Di-s es Di-s y no hay otro excepto Él”.

Moshé predice que, en generaciones futuras, la gente se alejará de Di-s, adorará ídolos, será exiliada de su tierra y esparcida por las naciones del mundo; pero allí ellos buscarán a Di-s y retornarán a observar sus preceptos.

Nuestra parashá también incluye una repetición de los Diez Mandamientos, y los versos del Shemá que declaran los fundamentos de la fe judía: la unicidad de Di-s (“Escucha Israel, Di-s es nuestro Di-s, Di-s es uno”); los preceptos de amor a Di-s, estudiar su Torá y “atar” estas palabras como Tefilín en nuestro brazo y cabeza, e inscribirlas en las Mezuzot fijadas en las jambas de nuestras puertas.