Shabbat Vaetchanan (ואתחנן – and I begged),
Parashah Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11 and Haftarah Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 40:1-26
Yochouha (Joshua) is appointed by Gd to conquer Israel. Moshe reminds the Bnei Israel of the Ten Commandments (Words) and testifies1 to the oneness of God while addressing the people of Israel. In the haftarah, Yeshayahou (Isaiah) comforts the people, announces the end of the exile, and proclaims the greatness and power of Gd.
Isaiah 40:26
שְׂאוּ-מָרוֹם עֵינֵיכֶם וּרְאוּ מִי-בָרָא אֵלֶּה, הַמּוֹצִיא בְמִסְפָּר צְבָאָם:
Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who has created these things?
This verse invites us to recognize the greatness of Gd. To grasp it, men build remarkable monuments such as the Great Synagogue of Plzeň. Two twin towers, 45 meters high, frame the pink granite facade topped with the Tablets of the Law. Completed in 1893, it was built by Rudolf Štech2 in a mix of Gothic, Baroque, Romantic, Neo-Renaissance, and Orientalist styles. Then, between 1995 and 1998, it was carefully restored3 . Despite the small size of the current Jewish community, the synagogue continues to play a vital role as a spiritual and cultural center. It regularly hosts cultural events of Jewish heritage (concerts, exhibitions).
1 The Shema: The first and last words of the verse Deuteronomy 6:4 end with the letters ע and ד, written in a larger size. These two letters, when combined, form the word עֵד (’Èd – witness). Thus, Israel bears witness to the oneness of God.
2 Initially designed by Max Fleischer, a Jewish Austrian architect, the plans were modified by Emmanuel Klotz and then by Rudolf Štech (1858–1908), a Czech architect who studied in Prague and Vienna and designed many monuments for the city of Plzeň.
3 During the Nazi occupation, it served as a munitions depot. After the war, the Jewish community regained possession of it.