HebdoSyna

Ki Tavo: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 and Isaiah 60:1-22

The parasha Ki Tavo (כי תבוא – when you enter) begins with the commandments concerning the declaration of the first fruits and offerings. It also details the blessings promised for obedience to the commandments and the curses that will follow disobedience.

Deuteronomy 28:12
יִּפְתַּח ה’ לְךָ אֶת אוֹצָרוֹ הַטּוֹב אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם לָתֵת מְטַר אַרְצְךָ בְּעִתּוֹ וּלְבָרֵךְ אֵת כָּל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶךָ וְהִלְוִיתָ גּוֹיִם רַבִּים וְאַתָּה לֹא תִלְוֶה.
The Lord will open for you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands.

In the New Synagogue on Oranienburger Street, light enters through skylights. Inaugurated in 1866, it was designed by architects Eduard Knoblauch and Friedrich August Stüler⁽¹⁾. Partially destroyed during the pogroms of 1938⁽²⁾, it remained in ruins until 1980. Inspired by Moorish architecture, with elements reminiscent of the Alhambra in Granada, its golden dome, visible from afar, is one of its most distinctive features. Inside, the synagogue features elaborate decorations and colorful stained glass windows that let in soft light.
Today, it houses the Centrum Judaicum, established in 1995 by the Jewish community in collaboration with authorities and cultural organizations to preserve and promote Jewish heritage.

(1) Eduard Knoblauch (1801-1865) and Friedrich August Stüler (1800-1865) were renowned German architects. Trained at the Berlin Academy of Architecture under Karl Friedrich Schinkel, they are known for their neoclassical and eclectic styles. They both died shortly before the synagogue’s inauguration.
(2) The November 1938 pogroms, known as “Kristallnacht” (the Night of Broken Glass), were a series of violent attacks orchestrated by the Nazis against Jews in Germany, resulting in the destruction of synagogues and the deaths of hundreds of people.

Ki Tetze, Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 and Isaiah 54:1-10 ¹

In the parashah Ki Tetze (כי תצא — when you go out), Moses sets out a series of laws governing social life, including family relations, workers’ rights, and rules of warfare, as well as the obligation to build a guardrail on rooftops.

Deuteronomy 22:8
When you build a new house, you shall make a guardrail for your roof.
כִּי תִבְנֶה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ, וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ

The Itzkhak Elchanan² Synagogue, better known as the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, was inaugurated in 1982. Built on the site of a synagogue destroyed during the 1948 War of Independence, it is located in the heart of Jerusalem, on King George Street, and can accommodate around 1,400 people. It was designed by architect Alexander Friedman in a monumental ³ neoclassical style. The roof is topped with a dome surrounded by a stone balustrade. This dome dominates the prayer hall and is adorned with stained glass windows. A large stained glass window ⁴ rises above the Holy Ark. The balustrade of the women’s gallery, made of carved wood, is decorated with geometric patterns and traditional Jewish symbols.
The synagogue was designed as an Ashkenazi synagogue, but the seating arrangement resembles that of Sephardic synagogues, symbolizing the unity ⁵ of the Jewish people.

¹ The haftarah for Ki Tetze is the same as for No’ah. Its themes are redemption and consolation.
² Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spector (1817-1896) was a prominent rabbi of the Russian Empire (Lithuania and Belarus), renowned for his exceptional Talmudic knowledge and influential rulings.
³ Monumental: The façade measures 40m wide by 30m high.
⁴ The stained glass windows are a tribute to European synagogues destroyed during the Holocaust, and are the work of Regina Heim and David Pinsky.
⁵ To further reinforce this unity, beside the choir are two chairs reserved for Israel’s chief rabbis, Ashkenazi and Sephardic, and facing them, two more chairs bearing the emblems of the State, reserved for the Prime Minister and the President.

Shoftim (שופטים – Judges) Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9 and Isaiah 51:12 – 52:12.

The Torah deals with the establishment of a fair judicial system, prohibits idolatry, and sets out the laws of war. It also highlights the conditions for the creation of cities of refuge (19:1-13) to protect involuntary manslayers.

Deuteronomy 19:2
שָׁלוֹשׁ עָרִים, תַּבְדִּיל לָךְ: בְּתוֹךְ אַרְצְךָ–אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, נֹתֵן לְךָ לְרִשְׁתָּהּ.
You shall set aside three cities for yourself in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

The United Brethren Synagogue of Hebron¹
Around 1880, to escape persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, a dozen Ashkenazi Jewish families formed a small community in Hebron, Connecticut. In 1940, Izzy Turshen² designed a building on land donated by Benjamin Kassman. The synagogue³, completed in September 1941, is in the Neo-Georgian style and incorporates Art Deco elements while remaining an example of rural architecture. Frescoes of scenes from Israel are painted on the walls.

¹ In Joshua 20:7, the city of Hebron is specifically designated as one of the cities of refuge.
² Also known as Ira Turshen, an American Jewish artist born in Russia.
³ Visit the United Brethren Synagogue on the site: Synagogues 360.

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.