Parashat Reeh/ParashahSummary

Parashat Reeh – Summary

• In Parashat Reeh, Moshe begins his discourse on the commandments, with a special focus on laws related to the "place that God will choose" as a national religious center.
  
  
• Blessings and Curses – At the end of Chapter 11, Moshe tells the people that it is in their hands to choose between being blessed or cursed. He instructs the Children of Israel to perform a ceremony after entering the Land of Israel in which they proclaim blessings on Mount Gerizim and curses on Mount Eival.
• The Place Which He Will Choose – In Chapter 12, Moshe instructs the Children of Israel to eradicate all traces of idolatry upon entering the Land. He also informs the people that Hashem will choose a specific location where His presence will dwell. All sacrifices must be offered there, and not on private altars. Upon entry into the Land of Israel, profane slaughter for purposes of consumption is permitted, but eating blood remains prohibited.
• False Prophet, Inciter, and Idolatrous City – Chapter 13 warns against the false prophet and the inciter to idolatry, both of whom are punished by death. An idolatrous city is to be razed, burned, and its inhabitants executed.
• Kashrut and Tithes – In Chapter 14, Moshe outlines a range of commandments relating to dietary practices. He repeats previously taught laws involving the identifying signs for the permissible species of animals and fish and the list of forbidden fowl, as well as the prohibition against cooking meat with milk. Moshe also instructs the Children of Israel against eating meat that was not properly slaughtered. The end of the chapter outlines the laws of the Second Tithe (eaten by the owner in the "place that God will choose") and the Poor Tithe (given to the needy).
• Social Justice – Chapter 15 focuses on laws which help the needy. These include the requirement that creditors forgive outstanding loans in the seventh year, the obligation to provide charity and loans to the poor, and proper treatment of the Hebrew slave. The chapter concludes with the commandment to consecrate all male firstborn sheep and cattle and bring them to the "place that God will choose".
• Festivals – Chapter 16 outlines the basic laws of the three festivals – Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot – during which we are commanded to make a pilgrimage to the "place that God will choose".

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