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Va'etchanan (2025)

Shabbat Parshat Va’etchanan / Nachamu

Dvar Torah
There is a Mitzvah to designate and operate “Sanctuary Cities” in Israel which shelter (and rehabilitate) perpetrators of negligent manslaughter (discussed extensively in Tractate Makkot). In this week’s parsha, Moshe, barred from the promised land, consecrates three of these cities on the eastern side of the Jordan. Rashi (referencing Makkot 10b) explains that even though he would never be able to complete the work and consecrate the remaining three cities required on the west bank of the Jordan, and even though from a Halachic point of view the entire sanctuary city system would be invalid until then, Moshe still insisted on doing what he could - teaching us that if there is a mitzva to be done and we can take part in it it, there is intrinsic value in its pursuit even if we need help from others completing it and we should relish every opportunity to involve ourselves in Mitzvot.

Tu B’Av
Tonight (Shabbat) commences the joyous festival of Tu B’Av which the Talmud in Ta’anit famously refers to as the second happiest day on the Jewish calendar. Among other things, Tu B’Av is celebrated as an auspicious day for matchmaking – an ancient tradition which has been happily revitalized in modern day Israel. PSA if you have friends you think would be great for each other – now’s a great time to set them up!

Shabbat times in/out
Yerushalayim 18:54/20:08
Sydney 17:02/18:00
Perth 17:27/18:24
Dubai 18:41/19:35
Rome 20:01/21:05
Paris 20:59/22:11
NYC 19:44/20:47
San Francisco 19:52/20:52

Shabbat Shalom!

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