This is the model for Source Sheet #2
First choose 2-4 pasukim from the "pshat" and " that we have studied in class.
Use either the Exodus (Freedom from Slavery)
or Devarim (Greatest Hits of Deuteronomy)
Then, you will need to find
a midrash that you must find, and then create your own personal midrash.
First choose 2-4 pasukim from the "pshat" and " that we have studied in class.
Use either the Exodus (Freedom from Slavery)
or Devarim (Greatest Hits of Deuteronomy)
Then, you will need to find
a midrash that you must find, and then create your own personal midrash.
(יט) הַעִידֹ֨תִי בָכֶ֣ם הַיּוֹם֮ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ֒ הַחַיִּ֤ים וְהַמָּ֙וֶת֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לְפָנֶ֔יךָ הַבְּרָכָ֖ה וְהַקְּלָלָ֑ה וּבָֽחַרְתָּ֙ בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים לְמַ֥עַן תִּחְיֶ֖ה אַתָּ֥ה וְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ (כ) לְאַֽהֲבָה֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ בְּקֹל֖וֹ וּלְדָבְקָה־ב֑וֹ כִּ֣י ה֤וּא חַיֶּ֙יךָ֙ וְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמֶ֔יךָ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת עַל־הָאֲדָמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨ע יְהוָ֧ה לַאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם לְיִצְחָ֥ק וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֖ב לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶֽם׃ (פ)
(19) I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed; (20) to love the LORD thy God, to hearken to His voice, and to cleave unto Him; for that is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Before the Jewish people are about to enter the land of Israel, Moses is about to die, and is not allowed to enter the land, therefore he gives an ethical will to the Jewish people, and this is an important part of his ethical will speech.
Rabbi Steven Pik-Nathan:
Choosing the right path is a difficult task, It may seem as if we have to clear away too many thorns. It may seem as if the path will never become clear and level. However, if we walk the path together as a community of seekers and if we trust ourselves and choose the path that may at first seem more difficult, we will eventually end up on the clear and even path that is filled with peace and that leads us to a meaningful life.
Choosing the right path is a difficult task, It may seem as if we have to clear away too many thorns. It may seem as if the path will never become clear and level. However, if we walk the path together as a community of seekers and if we trust ourselves and choose the path that may at first seem more difficult, we will eventually end up on the clear and even path that is filled with peace and that leads us to a meaningful life.
This commentary helped me understand the concept of this text, before I read this Midrash I thought that when Moses tells us to choose our right path, it means individually, that I should choose the path that would lead me to blessings, but when I read this commentary I started thinking of this differently, I started thinking that should not be picking the right path just for me but for my family and community, so we all could go on the right path.
This Pshat will connect to my life in a way of being more righteous, not just by my self, but to others too, and I will always try to choose the best decision in whatever I do, and would try to always to choose life. I will choose to live my life as a blessing and believe in G-D, and will try to let my surrounding choose a path that is filled with peace that would lead us to a peaceful and meaningful life, Just like Rabbi Steven explained.
What I mean by choosing the right path for myself and my surroundings is for example, I would try to never lie, I will not lie to people that I know could hurt them if they would find out the real truth, I would not cause harm to somebody and will try to cheer up people that are depressed, because if I would change myself to a better person, and try to add joy to other people's lives, they might very well do the same and will cause joy to other people too, and slowly I might cause a great positive impact that will lead people to want to choose the path of living.
Even if people decide to not choose life, I will try to prove that choosing positivity will always turn out to the best, because deep inside you know that you are a righteous person and decided to be honest, and thanks to that, people will decide to trust you more, and most importantly, you could trust yourself more.
What I mean by choosing the right path for myself and my surroundings is for example, I would try to never lie, I will not lie to people that I know could hurt them if they would find out the real truth, I would not cause harm to somebody and will try to cheer up people that are depressed, because if I would change myself to a better person, and try to add joy to other people's lives, they might very well do the same and will cause joy to other people too, and slowly I might cause a great positive impact that will lead people to want to choose the path of living.
Even if people decide to not choose life, I will try to prove that choosing positivity will always turn out to the best, because deep inside you know that you are a righteous person and decided to be honest, and thanks to that, people will decide to trust you more, and most importantly, you could trust yourself more.