untitled6

Devarim

Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

Torah Reading for Week of July 19-25, 2009

Tammuz 27-Av 4, 5769

"These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Israel on the

other side of the Jordan in the desert ..." (Devarim 1:1)

This parsha begins the last of the Five Books of Moses.

Parsha Devarim is always read on the shabbos before Tisha B’Av.

It is also referred to as the Mishna Torah- a review of the torah.

In this parsha Moses speaks to the Israelites on the East Bank of

the Jordan River prior to their entering of Caanan after 40 years

of wandering in the desert.

This book, unlike the other four where Moses quotes G-d and tells the people what G-d told him, was spoken directly by Moses himself. It is devoted primarily to reviewing the history of their journey and chastising and reprimanding them for their sins and shortcomings. It is interesting to note that Moshe waited until this time, right before his death to rebuke the Jews. This is his final goodbye and it has been said that the book of Devarim was given to the jewish people by Moshe as a preparation for the transition, he was worried that this nation which had had a difficult time in their acceptance of Hashem and torah, would now be embarking

on a new era. A time in which they needed to heed G-ds commandments, and a concerned Moshe reminds them and warns them of their transgressions and what happens when G-ds word is not adhered to. He especially reminds them of the sin of the spies and reiterates that this was the reason that the 11 day trip took the Jews 40 years.

“you have been rebellious with G-d from the day I knew you..”

The message that Moses needed to impress upon this new generation of the Children of Israel, was that they too would risk their entire inheritance if they failed to heed the word of God , reminding them that rebellion

against God leads to the nation's downfall whereas returning to God and following in His ways (ba'al teshuvah") leads to fortune and victory.

"Give heed to the laws and rules that I am instructing you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land..." (4:1).

They would be going from an existence in which their every need was miraculously taken care of to a more "earthly" existence. It is a difficult thing to offer critisicm, but the sages teach that when Moshe "spoke" to the Jewish people he did so “subtly and gently”. Rebuke is most effective when it can be perceived as being sincere. Perhaps this is why Moshe waited until this point –prior to his death to speak to them in this manner. They were willing to accept and hear his words of admonishment. Rashi has noted

"Had the people felt that Moshe's rebuke was insincere and that he had ulterior motives, his words would have been ineffective. A person will only accept rebuke if he feels that the rebuker has his best interest in mind."

We also see that timing is a major factor. In many instances one needs to wait until the “right time” to be critical and by saying the right thing at the right time, the chances of acceptance are enhanced. The name of the parsha – Devorim – means “words.” There are many ways to approach the given person and situation, yet so often the effort is misinterpreted or rejected. Watching when and where we speak can either cause real damage or on a positive note can also help us heal rifts and regenerate our bond with one another. This insight into human nature and society is important to reflect on as we approach Tisha B’Av.

Shabbat Shalom,

Miriam

These are the terrible events which occurred on Tish B'Av and the day has been called the "saddest day in

Jewish history". Tisha B'Av is a fast day similar to Yom Kippur

The sin of the spies caused Hashem to decree that the Children of Israel who left Egypt would not be

permitted to enter the land of Israel;

The first Temple was destroyed;

The second Temple was destroyed;

Betar,the last fortress to hold out against the Romans during the Bar Kochba revolt in the year 135, fell, sealing the fate of the Jewish people.

One year after the fall of Betar, the Temple area was plowed.

In 1492, King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree, setting Tisha B'Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed to walk on Spanish soil.

World War I – which began the downward slide to the Holocaust – began on Tisha B’av.

The shabbos before Tisha B’av is called Shabbos Chezon (shabbos of the vision) This shabbos we are suppose to increase our joy before the sadness of of Tisha B’av. Tisha B’Av, also known as “The Ninth of Av,” in addition to being a fast day, the "nine days" leading up to the holiday are also regarded as important reminders and many customarily refrain from eating meat during this period. Some refrain from pleasurable activities such as going to music concerts or swimming. Torah study is forbidden on Tisha B'av (as it is considered an enjoyable activity), except for sad texts such as the Book of Lamentations, This year Tisha B'Av is from sunset July 29th until July 30th sundown.

Simi’s 3 cheese dip

8 oz Cream cheese

S&P

1/2 cup Mayanaise

8 stalks Asparagus- chopped

1 can Artichoke hearts with oil

1 pkg frozen Spinach defrosted and drained

put all ingredients in a cuisinart

Top with parmesan cheese and pepper and bake 350

until top is golden about 45 minutes.

Dip with vegetables or crackers

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup sour cream

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add sour cream, egg, and vanilla; beat until smooth. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; mix in 1 cup chocolate chips.

Using 1 rounded tablespoon per cookie, drop mounds of dough, about 1 1/2 inches apart, onto two baking sheets. (You'll have 25 to 30 cookies.) Bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes; transfer to a rack to cool

completely.

Scatter remaining chocolate chips on a plate. Place about 2 tablespoons ice cream between 2 cookies, bottoms facing in; press gently. Roll the sides of each sandwich in chips. (If ice cream is melting, place sandwiches in freezer until firm enough to roll in chips.) Transfer sandwiches onto baking sheets. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours; then wrap individually in plastic. Freeze up to 2 weeks

Hanna’s Rolled Flounder

4 Flounder fillets

Stuffing:

5 slices white bread, lightly toasted

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 large onion, finely chopped

1 stalks celery, finely chopped

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup white wine

1 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Allow the toasted bread to sit approximately 24 hours, until hard.

Crush the bread into crumbs with a rolling pin. Place the crumbs in a large bowl.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and celery and slowly cook until soft. Remove from heat and drain.

Mix the eggs and chicken broth into the bread crumbs. The mixture should be moist, but not mushy. Mix in the onion, celery,garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Roll Flounder with 1 1/2 tbl. stuffing inside -stick in tooth pick to hold in place. Place additional stuffing on bottom and lay stuffed flounder on top. Sprinkle with butter and lemon juice. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

yogurt sauce

1cup plain yogurt

1 cucumber, shredded

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill weed

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

4 (6 ounce) fillets rainbow trout

1 pinch lemon pepper

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl combine the yogurt, cucumber, dill, lemon zest, olive oil and salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside.

To serve spoon yogurt sauce over fish.