Weekly D'rash Devarim

Tisha B’av Painting (Image by Valery Rybakou)

Every year when we come to the beginning of Deuteronomy, we are also close to a Jewish observance called Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av).  This year, Tisha B'Av begins this Sunday night night, August 2, and lasts through Tuesday, August 3.  The day is a remembrance of the destruction of the first and second Temples as well as all the persecutions that the Jewish people have endured.  The Book of Lamentations is read as well as other Jewish writings of lament.  There are calls for self-examination and repentance as well as a cry to God for deliverance.  After Tisha B'Av we begin a journey of self-examination leading all the way to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  For us as a community and as individuals, Tisha B'Av and the journey through the season of repentance serves as an opportunity for self-examination and transformation.

The Torah portion for this week is the beginning of Deuteronomy.  The Jewish people are on the plains of Moab preparing to enter the Promised Land.  They have been here before.  Back in Numbers 13–14, we read about their decision not to enter the land for fear of the people in the land.  Now, they are once again poised to enter the land.  On Tisha B'Av, we are once again poised to begin the journey to repentance and transformation.  We come to this place every year.  What will we do this year?  Will we take the journey which leads to transformation, or will we continually walk around in circles in the desert?

In Deuteronomy 1:6, Moses recounts the word of the Lord when the people had been at Sinai many years earlier.  He told them that they had been at the mountain long enough and that they needed to move forward to the Promised Land.  Now, approximately 38 years later, they hear the same command: “You have circled this mountain long enough.  Now turn north” (Deut 2:2).  God is desirous that the people get to their destination!  Each year, we return to the plains of Moab.

Each year we can make much of the journey from Tisha B'Av to Yom Kippur to be transformed in Messiah Yeshua.  How do we do that?  There is no formula for this—other than taking the initiative in your life to engage God in all things all the time!  For example, as you have heard recently, living in community facilitates transformation.  God is at work in our midst as we engage one another.  This is also true of our relationship with the Scriptures.  As we read the Bible, realize that God is present.  But also at work, play, and wherever you may be, remember that God is present.  Every experience in life, good or bad, has the potential to lead to transformation!  It is time to leave this mountain of complacency.  Let us journey together through this season keeping our eyes fixed on Yeshua!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Howard