Parashat Behukotai is the 33rd and final weekly Torah portion in the book of Leviticus. The portion includes a series of blessings and curses that are associated with the observance of the commandments. The opening verses of the portion emphasize the importance of following God’s commandments and highlight the benefits that come from doing so.
The portion then moves on to a detailed discussion of the various blessings and curses that are associated with the observance or violation of the commandments. The blessings include an abundance of crops, security from enemies, and a close relationship with God. The curses, on the other hand, include famine, disease, and exile from the land of Israel.
The portion emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s commandments and underscores the consequences of disobedience. It serves as a reminder of the importance of living a righteous life and following the path that God has set forth.
One of the most powerful aspects of Parashat Behukotai is the contrast between the blessings and curses that are associated with the observance or violation of the commandments. The portion makes it clear that the path to prosperity and success lies in following God’s commandments, while the path to destruction and despair lies in disobedience.
The portion also underscores the importance of repentance and forgiveness. Even in the face of disobedience, the portion emphasizes that it is never too late to return to God and seek forgiveness. It provides a powerful message of hope and redemption, emphasizing that even the worst transgressions can be overcome through repentance and a return to God’s path.
Overall, Parashat Behukotai provides a powerful message of the importance of obedience to God’s commandments and underscores the consequences of disobedience. The portion emphasizes the importance of living a righteous life and following the path that God has set forth, and it provides a message of hope and redemption even in the face of disobedience. It serves as a powerful reminder of the power of faith and the importance of seeking God’s guidance in all aspects of our lives.
Behukotai
בחוקתי
Jeremiah 16:19-17:14
My refuge in a day of trouble,
To You nations shall come
From the ends of the earth and say:
Our fathers inherited utter delusions,
Things that are futile and worthless.
No-gods are they!
Once and for all I will teach them
My power and My might.
And they shall learn that My name is LORD.
With a stylus of iron,
Engraved with an adamant point
On the tablet of their hearts,
And on the horns of their altars,
Their altars and sacred posts,
By verdant trees,
Upon lofty hills.
Throughout your borders,
I will make your rampart a heap in the field,
And all your treasures a spoil.-b
The inheritance I have given you;
I will make you a slave to your enemies
In a land you have never known.
For you have kindled the flame of My wrath
Which shall burn for all time.
Cursed is he who trusts in man,
Who makes mere flesh his strength,
And turns his thoughts from the LORD.
Which does not sense the coming of good:
It is set in the scorched places of the wilderness,
In a barren land without inhabitant.
Whose trust is the LORD alone.
Sending forth its roots by a stream:
It does not sense the coming of heat,
Its leaves are ever fresh;
It has no care in a year of drought,
It does not cease to yield fruit.
It is perverse—who can fathom it?
Search the mind—
To repay every man according to his ways,
With the proper fruit of his deeds.
So is one who amasses wealth by unjust means;
In the middle of his life it will leave him,
And in the end he will be proved a fool.
Our Sacred Shrine!
All who forsake You shall be put to shame,
Those in the land who turn from You
Shall be doomed men,
For they have forsaken the LORD,
The Fount of living waters.
Save me, and let me be saved;
For You are my glory.
Parashat Aharei Mot Weekday reading Moroccan te’amim