This week's parsha

Unless otherwise noted, "This week's Parsha" comprises articles taken from contributors to the Chabad.org website. We show the original author's name here, so that proper attribution is given. For the sake of brevity, footnotes cited in the original author's writings are omitted from this website. If you need to see the citations, please refer to the original articles on the Chabad.org website.

Testing Prophecy

Published: 21 August 2017 | Written by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

In his enumeration of the various leadership roles within the nation that would take shape after his death, Moses mentions not only the priest/judge and king but also the prophet:

“The Lord your G‑d will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.”

Moses would not be the last of the prophets. He would have successors. Historically this was so. From the days of Samuel to the Second Temple period, each generation gave rise to men -- and sometimes women -- who spoke G‑d’s word with immense courage, unafraid to censure kings, criticize priests, or rebuke an entire generation for its lack of faith and moral integrity.

Why Shechitah Is Important

Published: 14 August 2017 | Written by Tali Loewenthal

The Jewish people today are facing many conflicts. One of these concerns shechitah, the ritual slaughter of fowls, lambs and beef so that Jews are permitted to eat the meat. A number of groups are applying pressure in an attempt to ban shechitah, or to impose government laws which would prevent it from being carried out effectively.

Why is it important to protect our right to perform shechitah?

In practical terms, shechitah is virtually painless for the animal. The special shechitah knife is honed razor sharp: if it sliced a person's finger he would not feel it. The act of shechitah generally cuts the carotid arteries, causing immediate cessation of the blood supply to the brain. This is an effective, swift and pain-free stunning procedure. Many contrast this with the fixed bolt form of stunning used in non-kosher slaughter which anti-meat-eating groups describe in very negative terms.

A Question of Emphasis

Published: 07 August 2017 | Written by Lazer Gurkow

Shema and Shabbat

The Midrash on this week's parshah quotes an interesting argument between Rabbi Levi and the sages as to the primacy of G‑d's commandments. Rabbi Levi felt that the recitation of Shema is the primary mitzvah. The sages felt that observing the Shabbat is primary.

We can understand their difference of opinion in the following manner. The difference between Shabbat and Shema is that Shabbat is a holy day even if we don't observe it. Shema, on the other hand, is created by our performance. If we recite the Shema it becomes reality, if we don't it is merely a concept. Shema is an action, Shabbat is an existence in time.