A number of years ago I was part of a group of women who learned Torah every week. We had a few teachers, and one taught us the "Kuzari," a philosophical text. I remember learning that the week has six work days and then Shabbat, because if you take circles (buttons or coins of the same diameter), putting one in the center and then others surrounding it and touching, you will find that six go around the one. That's our week, six days of work to prepare and recover from Shabbat. That's our weekly cycle.
In Judaism there's also an annual cycle, called Parshat Shavua. It has two parts, the Torah--Five Books of Moses, which are divided into weekly readings, enough for even our longest leap years, and each week selections of the "Prophets," are also read. This goes on year in, year out, throughout the Jewish world.
What never ceases to amaze is how these portions parallel what goes on in today's events. Also, there is so much depth to the texts. Learned people read and study them year after year, and each year they find new lessons and messages.
Last week, we heard the Ten Commandments, and when I heard the commandment not to covet, not to want your neighbor's possessions, I couldn't help thinking of those who have been enthusiastically destroying the communities and the very profitable businesses of Gush Katif. People like the director of the Disengagement Authority, Avraham Bassi, who is directly connected with all sorts of competing businesses, could only be doing this job out of jealousy. He is personally benefiting in more ways than his very high salary by the destruction of the agricultural export industry of Gush Katif.
Just now, I went though my mail and read the commentary on this upcoming Shabbat's Haftara. It's so suited for today's tragedies. Parshat Eikev by Rabbi Dovid Siegel. What do you think?
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