The end has begun.
This week we read Dvarim, the first parsha in the final book of the
Torah.
The Book of Deuteronomy tells the people’s travels and
travails. Moses recounts the story. He lists the stops they’ve made along the
way, and also the battles they’ve fought.
They were victorious over Heshbon and Og. They were defeated at Hormah, and struck down
Zered.
It’s an effective way to tell a story: victories and
defeats.
We’ll soon observe Tisha b’Av, the holy day commemorating
the falls of the First and Second Temple, as well as the Expulsion from Spain
in 1492. Many Jews fast as a way to remember
our defeats. We seek to understand their
causes so as to strengthen ourselves as a people. We also honor our fallen.
What about your life story?
What have been your victories?
What have been your defeats?
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