Devarim
The Words of Moses
In His Own Words
This week's portion of Devarim starts off the Book of Deuteronomy, the fifth and final book of the Five Books of Moses. The portion begins with "These are the words which Moses spoke to all of Israel" and he begins to recount the places where the people rebelled against G-d's word.
The commentators say that Moses began to "explain" the Torah by first translating it into seventy languages - representing the seventy nations in the world at the time. We can learn from this the simple yet foundational message that the wisdom of the Torah is a light for all of humanity - all seventy nations of the world, not just the nation of Israel. The Torah's timeless teachings—justice, compassion, responsibility, peace, and love of our fellow human beings - offer wisdom that transcends culture and speaks to all humanity.
We also see that Moses finally speaks to the children of Israel in the first person after forty years in the desert. Instead of the text stating, "And G-d said to Moses", we read for most of Deuteronomy how Moses simply speaks his mind directly. We see the distinction between the first four books where G-d's words are transmitted "by" Moses and in the fifth book, they are G-d's words transmitted "through" Moses.
The lesson we can learn here is that we can ultimately connect to the Torah on a personal and human level. Moses reminds us that Divine wisdom is meant to become deeply personal. The Torah is not simply meant to be studied - it is meant to be lived.
Shabbat Chazon
This Shabbat is called Shabbat Chazon, or the Shabbat of Vision. It takes its name from the Haftorah portion which is always read immediately prior to the mournful fast on Tisha B'av. The Haftorah portion is the vision of Isaiah from the Book of Isaiah and recounts his mournful vision of the sins of the children of Israel - the underlying causes that ultimately result in the destruction of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem on Tisha B'Av.
Shabbat Chazon teaches us that spiritual vision is not about seeing what is obvious—it is about seeing the Light hidden beneath darkness. The Ari taught that the Messiah is destined to be born on Tisha B'Av itself, revealing the profound truth that our greatest redemption can emerge from our greatest destruction. Even the absence of Zohar commentary on Devarim has been understood by many as another expression of this concealed Light waiting to be revealed.
The destruction of the Temples reminds us that division, hatred, and selfishness conceal the Light within ourselves and the world. Shabbat Chazon invites us to see beyond those impulses. Every act of kindness, every moment of forgiveness, and every choice to replace ego with love reveals a little more of that hidden Light. In doing so, we participate in transforming destruction into redemption - one person, one relationship, and one action at a time.
Practical Tools for the Week
1. Speak with intention.
Before speaking, pause and ask: Will these words bring more clarity, kindness, or truth into the world? Like Moses, let your words become a source of wisdom rather than reaction.
2. Reveal hidden Light.
When faced with a challenge or disappointment this week, resist asking "Why is this happening?" Instead ask, "What opportunity or lesson is hidden here?"
3. Choose love over ego.
Reach out to someone with patience, forgiveness, or encouragement - especially if it's difficult. Every act of compassion helps transform separation into connection and reveals more Light in the world.
Resources & Credits
The Weekly Wisdom emails and the ideas presented herein are compiled from the following sources:
Gutnick Edition Chumash with Rashi's commentary, Targum Onkelos, and commentary anthologized from Classic Rabbinic Texts and the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Apples from the Orchard - Gleanings from the Mystical Teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria on the Weekly Torah Portion
Kabbalistic Bible - Kabbalah Centre International, Inc
The Zohar - Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, various translations
Mysteries of the Kabbalah - Marc-Alain Ouaknin
Wikipedia
Other online written and video content that discusses and shares Kabbalistic Wisdom