Welcome to our final installment of Wiggity Wainer Wednesday. It is hard to believe how fast this summer has gone by, and we can’t believe that our final Shabbat is just around the corner! Just as our summer to a close, so too in this week’s Torah portion is the journey of the Israelites wandering in the desert coming to a close. So far, the second sermon of Moses has reviewed the giving of the covenant and the meaning of the Ten Commandments. In Eikev, the blessings and curses of the covenant were spelled out, and Moses said that everything depends on what the people will do once they enter the Promised Land. Re’eih commands a new ritual, a kind of confirmation ceremony of the Israelites. Moses says to the Israelites, “See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I enjoin upon you this day; and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day and follow other gods, whom you have not experienced. When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are about to enter and possess, you shall pronounce the blessing at Mount Gerizim and the curse at Mount Ebal, -- Both are on the other side of the Jordan, beyond the west road that is in the land of the Canaanites who dwell in the Arabah – near Gilgail, by the oaks of Moreh.” This “confirmation” ceremony centers on the list of blessings and curses. Moses explains the ceremony later, in the portion called Ki Tavo, and the Book of Joshua states that the Israelites did perform the ceremony in Canaan. Moses then speaks of what should unite the tribes: “the laws and rules that I set before you this day.” He commands the Israelites to destroy all Canaanite places of worship. They must tear down Canaanite altars, cut down their idols, and remove all traces of the names of their gods. What comes next is a towering surprise: Moses told the people that, while Canaanites sacrificed to their gods in many places, from now on Israelites should sacrifice to Adonai in only one place – a place where Adonai’s name would be supreme. Moses commanded that all Israelites bring their sacrifices only to that one place. They would eat the meat of their sacrifices there, feasting “before Adonai your God.” Moses urged them, because now people do whatever they please – they sacrifice and make feasts to Adonai anywhere. In the Promised Land this will not do. All sacrifices will be offered at “the only place” that Adonai chooses. Moses warns the Israelites to beware of traps. They should be wary of becoming curious about the Gods of the Canaanites. Moses preaches that their ways were dangerous to the Israelites and that the bodies of the Israelites belong to Adonai. Therefore, you should protect your body since it was created in the image of God. This week we have the privilege of having both Chalutzim and Solel hosting Shabbat. Since there are only three weeks in the session, but four villages, we wanted to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to contribute to Shabbat. The theme that has been chosen for this week is “The end is just the beginning.” This theme is fitting in many ways for this Shabbat. For all of our campers and staff members, this is the last Shabbat of the session, but only the beginning of beautiful friendships that are made at camp. For Solel, this is their final Shabbat as campers, and the beginning of their transition into amazing Camp Wise staff members. For Chalutzim, this is the end of the summer, but only the beginning of their tenure at Camp Wise. Everyone is pumped for our last Shabbat here, and we can’t wait to see all of the different ways that both Chalutzim and Solel showcase this.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 20:33:18 +0000
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