Devarim - דברים : "Words"
Torah : Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
Haftarah : Isaiah 1:1-27
Gospel : Acts 1-2

Thought for the Week:

On the ninth of Av it was decreed that our fathers should not enter the land, the Temple was destroyed the first time, and the second time. (b.Taanit 29a)

Commentary:

Then you said to me, "We have sinned against the LORD; we will indeed go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us." And every man of you girded on his weapons of war, and regarded it as easy to go up into the hill country. (Deuteronomy 1:41)

According to Jewish tradition, the Israelites refused to enter the land on the ninth day of the fifth month (Tisha B'Av). Consequently, Judaism observes that day as an annual fast day. The same date is the anniversary of the destruction of both the first and second Temples. The first Torah reading from the ...