Vaetchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן (“I Pleaded”) Devarim/Deuteronomy 3:23- 7:11 opens as Moses describes his pleading with God to be allowed into the Land of Israel. Moses warns the Israelites not to pursue idolatry and recounts the giving of the Ten Commandments. The portion also contains the Shema, a declaration of faith and a central text in Jewish prayer. We'll read and Continue Reading »