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Re’eh (ראה – see), Deuteronomy 11:26 to 16:17 and Isaiah 54:11-55:5

Moses places before the Bnei Yisrael the blessing or the curse, depending on their obedience to divine laws. He specifies that the Jewish people must distinguish themselves from idolatrous nations. He also emphasizes the importance of tithing, being generous to the poor, orphans, and widows, freeing slaves, and celebrating pilgrimage festivals.

Deuteronomy 15:11
כִּי לֹא-יֶחְדַּל אֶבְיוֹן, מִקֶּרֶב הָאָרֶץ;
עַל-כֵּן אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ, לֵאמֹר,
פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת-יָדְךָ לְאָחִיךָ לַעֲנִיֶּךָ וּלְאֶבְיֹנְךָ, בְּאַרְצֶךָ.
For the poor shall never cease out of the land;
therefore I command thee, saying:
Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy poor and needy brother, in thy land.

Founded in 1788 in Belarus by Rabbi Schneur Zalman¹ of Liadi, Colel Chabad is the oldest Jewish charitable organization still in operation. From its inception, aid centers were established in Jerusalem and Sfat to materially support the poorest Jews living in the Holy Land, then under Ottoman rule. Since its creation, Colel Chabad has significantly expanded its activities. Today, the organization manages a vast network including community kitchens, food banks, clinics, daycare centers for children, and aid programs for widows and orphans. It is particularly active in Israel and also has a global impact.

¹ Schneur Zalman of Liadi (Belarus, 1745-1812), known as the Alter Rebbe, is the founder of the ‘Habad-Lubavitch movement. He is also known for his major work, the Tanya, which integrates mysticism and ethical principles. The term “Tanya” comes from Aramaic and means “teaching.”

Eqev, Deuteronomy 7:12 to 11:25 and Isaiah 49:14-51:3

Moses emphasizes divine benevolence and exhorts the Bnei-Israel to observe the mitzvot so that they may prosper in the Promised Land ^{_{(Deut. 11:13-15)}}, a land “flowing with milk and honey.” In the Haftarah, God assures the Bnei-Israel of His love and promises the gathering of the exiles at the coming of the Messiah.

Deuteronomy 8:7
ה’ אֱלֹריךָ, מְבִיאֲךָ אֶל-אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה: אֶרֶץ, נַחֲלֵי מָיִם–עֲיָנֹת וּתְהֹמֹת, יֹצְאִים בַּבִּקְעָה וּבָהָר.
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams of water, springs, and torrents, flowing in the valley and the mountain.

In Upper Galilee, the Biriya Forest, mainly composed of Jerusalem pine trees, houses the Naburiya synagogue, dating from the late 1^st century, as well as the Ein Naburiya spring, once used for watering livestock. The KKL has developed terraces and planted fruit trees around this spring. Built by the Palmach¹ in 1946 on the slopes of the mountain, the Biriya fortress served as a base for the defense of Safed and as a passage point for Jewish immigrants. Today, the fortress has become a museum.

¹ Created in May 1941, the Palmach (פלמ”ח – פלוגות מחץ – strike units) is an elite unit of the Haganah (ההגנה – the defense), the main Zionist paramilitary organization from 1920 to 1948. After the creation of the State of Israel, it became the core of the Tsahal (צה”ל – צבא ההגנה לישראל – Israel Defense Forces (IDF)).

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.

En anglais :

Parasha Pinchas (Numbers 25:10 to 30:1)
and the associated Haftarah (I Kings 18:46 to 19:21).

God reveals Himself to Pinchas and Elijah and rewards them for their fervor and zeal in His service.

I Kings 19:12
וְאַחַר הָרַעַשׁ אֵשׁ, לֹא בָאֵשׁ יי ; וְאַחַר הָאֵשׁ, קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה.
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire, a still small voice.

The Battle of Megiddo in 1918 was decisive. General Edmund Allenby, leading the British forces, defeated the Ottoman army, leading to its collapse and the liberation of the entire region.

Elijah’s Cave is located on Mount Carmel, which is renowned for its natural beauty and lush vegetation. The still small voice of the wind rustling through the trees adds to the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere of the site. The cave, now accessible to everyone (previously restricted to Christians or Muslims at certain times), is reached via a staircase from Allenby Street in the lower part of Haifa. According to tradition, Elijah came here to pray before calling down fire from heaven.

Balak (בָלָק), Numbers, from 22:2-25:9 and Micah 5:6-6:85

This Parasha is named after the king of Moab and Midian¹, Balak. He hires Bilaam, a prophet from Mesopotamia², to curse Israel. Despite his efforts, Bilaam fails and ends up blessing Israel, prophesying about the end of times³.

Numbers 25:5
מַה-טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל.
How good are your tents, O Ya’aqov! Your dwellings, O Israel!

The Ohel Jakob Synagogue (Tent of Jacob) in Munich, the work of Rena Wandel-Hoefer and Wolfgang Lorch, is a modern building made of concrete and travertine, topped with a glass cube. Its interior, paneled with cedar and adorned with psalms written in golden letters, was inaugurated on November 9, 2006, the 68th anniversary of Kristallnacht⁴, testifying to the resilience of the Jewish people.

¹ Moav and Midian are regions that today correspond to Jordan and the Arabian Peninsula.
² Mesopotamia encompasses parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait.
³ Numbers 24:15-25: In their commentaries, Rashi, Rambam, Sforno, Malbim, the Talmud, Midrashim, and the Zohar explain that Bilam prophesies about future kingdoms and the Messiah.
⁴ Pogroms perpetrated by the Nazis on November 9 and 10, 1938.

BaMidbar (במדבר – in the desert), Numbers 1:1-4:20 and Hosea 2:1-22

In the desert, Gd asked Moses to conduct a new census of the children of Israel. He also detailed the arrangement of the camps around the sanctuary and their marching order, like an army ready for battle.

Numbers 2:32:
אֵלֶּה פְּקוּדֵי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם: כָּל-פְּקוּדֵי הַמַּחֲנֹת, לְצִבְאֹתָם–שֵׁשׁ-מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים, וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים.
These are the counts of the children of Israel according to their ancestral houses; the total of the counts of the camps, according to their armies, was 603,550.

In the Negev desert, near Horvat Maon and the martyr kibbutzim of Nirim and Nir Oz, south of Gaza, lies the Maon Synagogue, an archaeological relic renovated in the 6th century, although the original building is much older. Its notable feature is the semi-circular apse designed to house a Torah ark.
The mosaics feature various symbolic representations, including a vine, palm trees, a shofar, a lulav, an etrog, a menorah, two lions, symbolizing the tribe of Judah. An Aramaic inscription mentions the names of the three donors of the mosaic and blesses the entire community.

Be’houqotaï (בחוקותי – according to My rules),
Leviticus 26:3–27:34 and Jeremiah 16:19–17:14.

Following the blessings and curses, the end of the Sidra is dedicated to the tithe offerings.

Leviticus 27:30
וְכָל-מַעְשַׂר הָאָרֶץ מִזֶּרַע הָאָרֶץ, מִפְּרִי הָעֵץ–לַיי, הוּא: קֹדֶשׁ, לַיי
All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s: it is holy to the Lord.

The Synagogue on Rue de la Dîme (tithe street) in Benfeld was erected in 1846. In 1876, it underwent expansion on the sides by architect Gustave Adolphe Beyer. In 1895, the Wetzel organ ⁽¹⁾ was installed. In 1922, orientalist frescoes inspired by those in the Florence synagogue were painted by Benfeld artist Achille Metzger. Recognized for its historical value, the synagogue has been listed as a historical monument since 1984. Currently, it is undergoing restoration as part of the Mission Patrimoine ⁽²⁾.

During World War II, Eugène Guthapfel courageously faced the German authorities and saved the synagogue from destruction ⁽³⁾. Today, a commemorative plaque thanking him is placed outside the synagogue.

⁽¹⁾ It is signed “Ch. Wetzel & Fils, Strasbourg,” meaning by Charles Wetzel and his son Edgard. It is the only remaining synagogue organ in Alsace.
⁽²⁾ The Mission Patrimoine, entrusted to Stéphane Bern, is a project implemented by the Fondation du Patrimoine and supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Française des Jeux to safeguard French heritage.
⁽³⁾ As the town hall secretary at the time, he showed remarkable presence of mind. While some nuns hid the religious objects that revealed the building’s religious identity, Eugène Guthapfel claimed to need the synagogue for supposed meetings. Thanks to this ruse, the entire building was preserved.

Behar Sinai (בהר סיני – on Mount Sinai), Leviticus 25:1-26:2 and Jeremiah 32:6-27

The Lord commands the observance of the Sabbath of the land (שְׁמִטָּה – shmita) and the Jubilee (יוֹבֵל – yovel).

Leviticus 25:2
דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם
כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם–וְשָׁבְתָה הָאָרֶץ, שַׁבָּת לַיהוָה
Speak to the children of Israel and say to them:
When you come into the land that I give you,
the land shall observe a rest for the Lord.

The eco-educational farm Chava ve-Adam, founded in 2003 by Isaac Gaziel, is located in a valley adjacent to the Modi’in Technology Park. On this farm, biblical commandments related to the land, such as Shmita, Yovel, as well as the Sabbath and festivals, are meticulously observed.

The farm’s activities focus on organic agriculture and ecological self-sufficiency. These include the use of solar energy, waste treatment, rainwater harvesting, and the reuse of wastewater. In addition, the farm implements innovative ecological construction techniques.

Hava ve-Adam also offers educational programs (seminars, workshops, guided tours) aimed at teaching agricultural methods in harmony with ecological principles and biblical traditions.

Emor (אמור – say), Leviticus (21:1–24:23), Ezekiel 44:15-31

Olive oil plays a crucial role in the rituals of the Temple. It is used to prepare the anointing oil, used to consecrate the priests and sanctuary objects, and to fuel the Menorah, a powerful symbol of divine presence.

Leviticus 24:2
צַו אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית–לַמָּאוֹר: לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר, תָּמִיד.
Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

Renowned Olive Oil:
The region of Chania in Crete is renowned for its production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. The Cretan Olive Mill, located in Chania, has won several gold medals in international competitions⁽¹⁾.

Etz Haïm Synagogue (Tree of Life):
After the Ottoman conquest of Crete in 1669, the Jewish community acquired a Venetian Catholic church dating back to the 14th century and transformed it into a synagogue, serving as a spiritual and cultural center for over three centuries. Damaged during World War II, it was left abandoned. Following the earthquake in 1995, Nikos Stavroulakis⁽²⁾ took the initiative to restore the entire complex.

⁽¹⁾ Particularly with their Cretan Agrelia Koroneiki oil, produced from Koroneiki olives, the most common variety in Crete.
⁽²⁾ Nicholas Peter Stavroulakis (1932 – 2017), also known as Peter Stavis, was a scholar, American-Greek artist, director, and founder of the Jewish Museum of Greece. He played a crucial role in preserving Jewish heritage in Greece.

Parasha Kedoshim (קדושים – Holy), Leviticus 19:1-20:27 and Ezekiel 22:1-19. Pirkei Avot Chapter 2. Yom HaShoah. Yom HaZikaron. Yom HaAtzmaut.

In Pirkei Avot 2:1:
 רבי⁽¹⁾ אוֹמֵר: אֵיזוֹ הִיא דֶֽרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה שֶׁיָּבוֹר לוֹ הָאָדָם, כָּל שֶׁהִיא תִּפְאֶֽרֶת לְעֹשֶֽׂיהָ וְתִפְאֶֽרֶת לוֹ מִן הָאָדָ.
Rabbi⁽¹⁾ says, ‘What is the straight path that a person should follow? It is the one that honors him in his own eyes and also honors him in the eyes of others.

Located atop Jerusalem, Mount Herzl, also known as the Mount of Remembrance (Har HaZikaron), is a place of memory, where heroes are honored. It houses the National Cemetery of Israel, various memorials^(2), and the Herzl Museum.
Every year, during national commemoration days such as Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut^(3), Mount Herzl becomes the focal point of official ceremonies, embodying the spirit of memory, resilience, unity, solidarity, and determination of the Israeli people.

⁽¹⁾ Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi, Rabbi Yehuda the Prince, better known by the titles Rabbi, My Master, or Rabbeinu HaQadosh, Our Holy Master, was a Tanna (Mishnaic sage) of the fifth generation (135 – circa 220 CE).
⁽²⁾ At the top of Mount Herzl, the place where the tomb of Theodor Herzl is located hosts the opening ceremony of Israel’s Independence Day. Around the square, the National Cemetery houses the graves of numerous personalities, as well as those of soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their lives for Israel. Near the summit on the western slope lies Yad Vashem, the world’s largest Holocaust memorial, honoring Jewish victims of the Holocaust, as well as heroes and Righteous Among the Nations.
⁽³⁾ Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaZikaron: Israeli Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut: Independence Day.