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.
Add the "pshat text" (2 or 3 pasukim) that you will be creating this Source Sheet for here. Add the text in both Hebrew and English (in Sefaria). From the + (blue circle, press add and then type in the book, perek and pasuk (i.e. Breisheet 1:1 or Shemot 2:2)
(כו) רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃ (כז) אֶֽת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְע֗וּ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃ (כח) וְהַקְּלָלָ֗ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לָלֶ֗כֶת אַחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃ (ס)
(26) Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: (27) the blessing, if ye shall hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day; (28) and the curse, if ye shall not hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
Context: Explain where this text comes within the story of Torah. What is important about this "pshat"? What is the contextual meaning of your text that is important?
- Leading up to Deuteronomy 11:26-28 the Israelites are told of the commandments God created. We are told what we should do and should not do. When we reach Deuteronomy 11:26-28 the Israelites have a choice. This is very important because the Israelites have gone through a lot with God. Now the Israelites have a chance to make their own decision on who they want to follow. If they decided to follow God then it will be a blessing because they can trust God since they have had so many experiences together. If they do not choose God, then it will be a curse because when they find another God, it will be hard have trust not knowing the other God. This is the most important decision the Israelites have to make and it will effect them for the rest of their lives. If they go with God, then they will have to follow God’s rules and they will be blessed. If they do not go with God, then they will have to find a different God and they will be cursed. When the text says, “Those who choose God will be blessed”, it means that they will have God on their side and will be with them when they need help. The text also says that people have to follow God’s commandments in order to have the blessing. If you do not choose God then the text says you will be cursed and that means you will not have a relationship with God. God will move on from you and you have to go find a different God.
Find a really important commentary from a Torah book in the library or the internet. Type in the commentary/midrash here. Be sure to include who the author of the commentary is.
(ג) וְדָבָר זֶה עִקָּר גָּדוֹל הוּא וְהוּא עַמּוּד הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְוָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ל-טו) "רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם אֶת הַחַיִּים". וּכְתִיב (דברים יא-כו) "רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם". כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁהָרְשׁוּת בְּיֶדְכֶם. וְכָל שֶׁיַּחְפֹּץ הָאָדָם לַעֲשׂוֹת מִמַּעֲשֵׂה בְּנֵי הָאָדָם עוֹשֶׂה בֵּין טוֹבִים בֵּין רָעִים. וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה הָעִנְיָן נֶאֱמַר (דברים ה-כו) "מִי יִתֵּן וְהָיָה לְבָבָם זֶה לָהֶם". כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין הַבּוֹרֵא כּוֹפֶה בְּנֵי הָאָדָם וְלֹא גּוֹזֵר עֲלֵיהֶן לַעֲשׂוֹת טוֹבָה אוֹ רָעָה אֶלָּא הַכּל מָסוּר לָהֶם:
(3) And this is a major principle, and it is a pillar of the Torah and the Mitzvah, as it says, See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil (Deuteronomy 30:15), and it is written, Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse (Deuteronomy 11:26), which is to say that you have free will, and whatever a person wants to do, of all the deeds of humanity, he can do, whether good or bad. And based on this concept it says, Oh that they had such a heart as this [always, to revere Me, and keep all My commandments] (Deuteronomy 5:26), which is to say that the Creator neither forces humans nor decrees for them to do Good or Evil; everything is turned over to them.
Explain why you believe that the midrash that you chose is so meaningful or important. What does the midrash add to the pshat? Be sure to include a description of who this commentator is, when they lived, and why they are an important voice.
- I chose this midrash because it talks about us being able to have the option of having life. We are given the opportunity from God if we want to chose life and live. Life is the most important thing in the world and we are able to have a say if we want it. Choosing between a blessing and a curse means that people have free will and can do whatever they want. When someone takes life, then it is not God who tells them to do good or evil, everything is turned to them. Whatever decision you make is what you want to do and not what God is telling you to do. When choosing between a blessing and a curse, it is the human who is making his/her own choice without God.
Type in your personal midrash here regarding the text that you chose here. Minimum of 250 words. Be sure to include how your study of the pshat and midrash could impact your life today, and why you chose this text from all of the choices that were available to you.
When I was 14 I was faced with a decision that would effect me for the rest of my life just like the Israelites. I had to decided what high school I was going to be attending. I had to decided where I was going to be going to school for the next four years. The Israelites were given a choice of a blessing or a curse, either to follow God or leave. When I was making my decision for high school, I also felt like I was choosing between a blessing and a curse. Between all my options, Milken did not have the best baseball program. I had played competitive baseball all my life and I had the option to play at a higher level. The one thing Milken had over the other schools was a Jewish education. When I was making my decision, I thought about not going to a jewish school and how much that would effect my life. If I would not go to Milken, it would be like the Israelites finding a new God. It would be a curse because it would be very hard to do. I decided to take the blessing and go to Milken. Even though I was giving up a great baseball experience, I was able to get a great Jewish education. My story is similar to the Israelites because I had to make a tough decision that would effect me forever. Although I had to give up baseball, I thought I made the right decision because I was able to get a great Jewish education out of it.