Parashat Vayelech – Year 2 – The Reading that Transforms.
Shabbat Shalom, Nazarene family.
This week we will study the parashat Vayelech, portion of year 2, where we will see that Moshe writes the Torah and gives it to the leaders of Israel, including the priests and elders. It is also established that every seven years, during the festival of Sukkot, the Torah must be read in the presence of all the people, including men, women, children and foreigners, so that they learn to fear Yahweh and obey His commandments.
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:12-13
12 Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear Yahweh your Elohim and carefully observe all the words of this law,
13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear Yahweh your Elohim as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”
This week corresponds to the reading of the texts (in bold):
- Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:1-8 / 31:9-13 / 31:14-30
- Hoshea (Hosea) 14
- Mikah (Micah) 7
- Yoel (Joel) 2
- Ya’akov (James) 1:1-18 / 1:19-2:13 / 2:14-26
Summary of the weekly study, Year two:
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:9-13
In these verses, Moshe gives the Torah to the priests and elders of Israel, instructing them to read it publicly every seven years during Sukkot, in the year of Shemitah. This reading was to gather all the people, including men, women, children and foreigners, so that they would listen, learn and fear Yahweh, obeying His commandments. The purpose was to ensure that each generation would know Yahweh’s will and live according to His teachings. This practice fostered unity, commitment to Torah and the transmission of faith to the youngest, thus strengthening the identity of the people of Israel.
Mikah (Micah) 7
In these verses, the prophet Micah describes the corruption and injustice in his time, lamenting that loyalty and righteousness are hard to find. Despite betrayal even within families, he puts his trust in Yahweh, hoping in His salvation. He also proclaims that, though Israel has fallen, it will rise again, for Yahweh will bring light in the midst of darkness. Finally, the forgiveness and mercy of Yahweh, who does not keep His wrath forever, but has compassion and restores His people, fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs, is emphasized.
Ya’akov (James) 1:19-2:13
In these verses, we are taught the importance of listening with patience, speaking with prudence and controlling anger, since Yahweh’s justice is not produced by human impulses. It is exhorted to be doers of the word and not hearers only, comparing the one who listens without obeying to someone who forgets his own image. Furthermore, we read that true faith is reflected in actions, such as caring for the needy and keeping away from evil. It also warns against partiality, recalling that Yahweh is no respecter of persons and that mercy must prevail over judgment.
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Enjoy this fun activity with the whole family. Inside you will find development questions for the three weekly sections (Torah, Haftarah and Brit Chadasha). While the older ones discuss the questions and their answers, the younger ones can color the picture related to the teaching, solve a maze, find the 7 differences and much more. We encourage you to do it week by week and instill in your children the habit of studying Yahweh’s word as a family.
We hope you and especially your sons and daughters enjoy this effort. For it is through the study of the Scriptures that we can come to understand the love and care that Yahweh has always had for us. And also to perceive that He has been taking care of even the smallest detail, so that we can take care and enjoy all that He gives us. That is why it is so important that our children learn and grow up knowing that they are loved by the Creator of all that exists.
Shalom.
To view the Tanach studies, click here
To view the Brit Chadasha studies, click here
