Vayelech: He went — וילך

Thoughts on Torah for Week.
 
See our page on Spiritual Coaching.
 
Deuteronomy 29-30
In this parsha, we see the Lord essentially stating that he will make His covenant with anyone who desires it.   The Lord says, “It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant, but with whoever is standing here with us today before the LORD our God, and with whoever is not here with us today.” 29:14,15.    Why would anyone want to make this covenant with God?  One important reason is to repair their lives by receiving God’s blessings. In Judaism, a "repairing" of the world is called Tikkun Olam. Moreover, wounded hearts can be healed/repaired by receiving the unconditional acceptance of God.  In this review, we’ll look at the healing power of both God and the Law.

---

​Tikkun Olam
One of the main initiatives of contemporary Judaism is to repair the world or in Hebrew Tikkun Olam.  This initiative essentially is the reaching out of Jews to make the world better.  The following video address by Rabbi Sacks conveys the essence of the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam.

​Wounded Hearts
In the Scriptures, one of the powerful ways God heals or repairs people is through His unconditional love and acceptance. He can heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds - Psalms 147:3.  Recently, the Kendrick Brothers produced another inspiring movie about the healing power of God.  The story revolves around a young woman who was left by both of her parents to be raised by an aunt.  She felt abandoned and unloved and unwanted.  At one point, she was challenged to define who she was and found the Lord.  This music video conveys some of the steps that she took to be healed.

The realization that God could offer unconditional love and acceptance initiated a series of events that changed her life, which lead to a forgiveness and reconciliation with her father.  The healing process she experienced is summarized in the table below.

Defining who you are.

>

I am a child of God

>

I am loved. I am redeemed. ​I am saved.

>

Wounds are healed. - ​No longer sees herself as a victim

>

Repentance Reconciliation ​Repair

Freedom in America 
Another dramatic way that we can see the healing power of God is through His Law.  In previous posts, we set out how the founding of America restored principles of Biblical freedom to humanity, which became a healing to the world. Many of these principles originated in the Torah.  American made a covenant with God because the Founders of American knew that rights come from God and not man. and that freedom, prosperity and Divine protection ultimately originate with the Creator.  The freedom and prosperity that America enjoys is a testimony of the blessings of the Torah.

In his book, The Majesty of God's Law, Cleon Skousen wrote, "The linchpin that united [the Founders] thinking on every important principle was in the Bible." page 1

​
Happy and Abundant Living
God also promises that we can receive His blessings and repair our lives by enjoying a happy and abundant life through living His law.   Cleon Skousen also wrote,

"God's covenant society was specifically designed for happy and abundant living.  For each inhabitant it offers the essential ingredients for a life of freedom, prosperity and peace.  However, it obligated each citizen to honor, sustain, and promote a strict adherence to the values and inspired guidelines revealed by God for happy living. God's Law provided exceptional promises to Israel.  It included the promise that if they continued in righteousness, they could develop a commonwealth - called Zion - and become the most powerful, wealthy and blessed nation in the world [and these principles still apply to us today]." page 207

Hebrew Study

---

Isaiah Chapter 50
Imbued with the knowledge of God, Jehovah’s servant seeks to wake up Jehovah’s people as he is awake (Isaiah 51:9). Jehovah’s servant receives opposition from the rebellious who feel threatened by his preaching.
​

---

Resource Links for this Week's Portion

TORAH: Deuteronomy 31:1 to 31:30
GOSPELS: Matthew 21:9-17

Listen and Read the Portion
First Fruits of Zion

Torah Pearls with Nehemia Gordon

HAFTARAH: Isaiah Chapter 51

Commentary with Avraham Gileadi, PhD