Torah Talk for Parashat Devarim
July 26, 2017 by
In this parasha, Moshe recounts to the Bnei Yisrael episodes from the 40 years in the wilderness; he gives the Bnei Yisrael encouragement regarding their upcoming conquest of the land of Cana’an.
During the retelling of the history, Moshe reminds the Bnei Yisrael of one of many times he turned to God, saying (1:12): “How can I alone bear your burdens, and your encumbrances, and your strife?”
I believe that the use of the first word in this verse, eichah, which I translate above as “how,” is no coincidence. This is the Shabbat immediately preceding Tisha B’Av, when we mourn the destruction of our Batei Mikdash (Temples) and read the Book of Lamentations, which is known in Hebrew as Megilat Eichah. Read more >
