Va’etchanan (And I Pleaded) D’Varim (Deut.) 3:23-7:11

Torah Portion: Va’etchanan (And I Pleaded) D’Varim (Deut.) 3:23-7:11
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 40:1-26
Messianic Scripture  Matt. 4:1-11,22:33-40; Mark 12:28-34
 
Today we read the Torah portion, “And I pleaded.”  The Haftorah reading is from Isaiah 40:1-26. It is from this reading that this Shabbat is known as the Shabbat of Comfort. The first verse of Isaiah 40 says, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people! Says your G-d.” This statement should speak to all of us today. As believers we have the responsibility to comfort the Jewish people. It should move each of us to do whatever we can to stand up for Israel and to comfort the Jewish people today in an increasingly hostile world.

D’Varim (Words) (Deut.) 1:1-3:22

: D’Varim (Words) (Deut.) 1:1-3:22

Haftorah Readings: Isaiah (Yesh’yahu) 1:1-27

Tonight we begin the final book of Torah. In Hebrew this book is named “D’Varim.” In English this word is “Words.” This word is found in the first verse of the first chapter. Here we read, “These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Israel.” This book consists mainly of a teaching given by Moshe over a month’s time on the East bank of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho. It is also mainly written with Moshe speaking in the first person.