A 100% VirJEWal Synagogue serving the needs of all backgrounds of the Jewish Community of
Central, NJ since 1983
Eli B. Perlman, Rabbi
Congregation Beit Shalom / Monroe Township is a unique Conservative Egalitarian Congregation. The difference between this and other congregations is that we are truly a family. We get together to pray, to learn, to laugh, to sing, to schmooze - and it is 100% VirJEWal. When someone is in need, we help each other in ways that continue to inspire everyone.
Moshe concludes his span of Jewish leadership in song, much as he began it. He warns the nation against backsliding and abandoning G-d. As they enter the Promised Land, they must always remember that G-d is their only salvation.
It is in this Torah Reading that Moshe Rabeinu (Moses, our Teacher) elevates himself to the position of Moshe Ha-Chazzan (Moses the Cantor). While Moshe had led Beit Yisrael in song after crossing the Sea of Reeds, this is the first time in his recorded life that Moshe chants a solo to reinforce what G-d had wanted him to teach us. It is a remarkable message in which Moshe describes the presence of G‑d as being as obvious as the rain or dew that nourish the fields and gardens. He teaches that G‑d is completely just, always good, always compassionate and always forgiving.
He wants us to understand that everything that things that all negative things that happen to us are the result of the bad choices and resulting actions of G-d's children. We Jews must always remember that we were chosen from among all other nations by our Creator. We were born in a “desolate, howling, wasteland” and we were protected until we were able to choose to partner with the Creator all things.
Unfortunately, as humans, we seem to forget how much we must depend on G-d and we start to believe that we do not need the Divine. We elevate our own importance to the point that we become overly self-sufficient and independent. “Yeshurun thus became fat and rebelled...” When that happens, Moshe prophesizes that we will be punished with exile and persecution. He sings that we will be forced from our Land and be sold into slavery so we will learn what it means to be independent of G‑d.
While that is happening, the other nations will fail just as we did. They will assume that they can enslave and ravage the Chosen People as proof of G‑d's irrelevance. When this happens, those other nations will be punished and destroyed, thus proving to the Chosen People that G-d is the L-rd.
As Moshe’s Song ends, the Jewish people respond by singing about their acceptance and understanding of G-d's purpose and justice. As Moshe presents his “Song” to the nation, he reemphasizes that there is a condition for keeping the Land and that is to live a life driven by Mitzvot listed in the Torah and serving G‑d.
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