In Jewish practice, every Sabbath has an assigned Torah portion, a section from the "Five Books of Moses" that's read and discussed during services on Saturday morning. This week's portion, or parasha, contains one of the most potent biblical injunctions, given to the People of Israel at the end of the exposition of the Law in Deuteronomy.
The people are admonished to obey the laws and precepts that have been given to them. They are promised that on that path lies health, happiness and prosperity. Rejection of these laws leads in the opposite direction. The first part of the parasha, called Netzarim, concludes:I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants; to love the Lord your God, to listen to His voice, and to be faithful to Him; for that is your life, and the length of your days; that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, to give them.
Shabbat Shalom.
