ME? a Prophet?

Torah Study this week -with Rabbi Susan Lippe

Deuteronomy 18:15-18

Moshe says that God will appoint Prophets like him (Moses).

So does anyone have a chance to be a Prophet?

"like him" - what does that mean? Humble, reluctant and all those other characteristics that Moses is attributed with? BUT the last line in Torah is "there will be no other like Moses".... so there is a conflict here. So what made a Prophet be selected by God?

Did the people who heard Moshe say that there were going to be Prophets think: "Maybe I will be selected?" Hmmmm.... would that have been a desired appointment or not?

Interesting discussion points here.

Is God Still Talking To Us?

start with an appropriate joke:

Moishe is driving in Jerusalem. He's late for a meeting, he's looking for a
parking place, and can't find one. In desperation, he turns towards heaven
and says, "G-d, if you find me a parking place, I promise that I'll eat only
kosher, respect Shabbats, and all the holidays."

Miraculously, a place opens up just in front of him. He turns his face up to
heaven and says, "Never mind, I just found one."


This week as we discussed Prophets the question came up about our current communication with God.

Is God still talking to us? Are we listening?

Back in the time of the Prophets it was difficult even when there was an appointed person to communicate God's words. People didn't know if they could believe them until after the fact....

But later, much later, the sages got together and decided that there were no more Prophets and we had to find a different way to hear God's word.

So now we have to listen harder or go on wondering if God created that parking space for us or not!

Kings and Things

The people wanted to be like everyone else and have a King.

Samuel tried to tell them it wasn't a good idea.

But the neighbor communities had Kings so they wanted one.

So they got a King with lots of warnings and rules to try to keep the Kings from abusing power or destroying the Israelites.

There is a lot here....


Was this the beginning of Diaspora attitude?

more later....