It's a fact. The Jewish Community of Porto is preparing to begin the last book of the Torah, after which it will seek to complete twelve years of uninterrupted minyan in the city. It manages two synagogues that operate simultaneously.
Aware that the Power has joined forces with criminals and the envious to try to sabotage its growth plan, the Community took advantage of the last Shabbat to send affectionate greetings to everyone. In the Kadoorie synagogue there was laughter and hugs amid much rejoicing.
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Torah. In Hebrew, it is called Devarim (which translates to "words"), referring to Moses' opening farewell speeches to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land.
Moses's farewell address teaches a new generation how to transition from the wilderness to nationhood. Its lessons remain deeply relevant today, offering timeless blueprints for intergenerational education, social justice, and collective morality.
The opening chapters emphasize passing core values and historical memory to youth who did not personally experience formative events. This translates to today's focus on cultural continuity, ensuring that younger generations understand their heritage to build a resilient future.
Deuteronomy, often through laws like the tithe, debt cancellation, and fair wages, prioritizes the vulnerable—the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the stranger. It serves as an ancient foundation for modern civic responsibility and human rights advocacy, without forgetting Jewish human rights.
The book frequently frames life as a series of choices between blessing and curse, famously calling the people to "choose life". This provides a strong, empowering framework for individual accountability and community stewardship in a complex modern world.
Texts such as the prohibition of cutting down fruit-bearing trees during a siege (Deut. 20:19) are increasingly cited by contemporary scholars as the root of Jewish environmental ethics and ecological sustainability.
Moses warns that material prosperity can lead to complacency and forgetting one's spiritual center (Deut. 8). This provides a vital moral compass against modern materialism, reminding societies to look after the marginalized rather than worshiping sheer wealth.
The weekly reading cycle continues through the summer and early fall, and finally concludes in October on the holiday of Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah), where the very last words of Deuteronomy and the first words of Genesis are read consecutively.
As the world leader in promoting Jewish culture, the organization that protects the lives of Porto's Jews is now preparing new surprises for future generations, whether communal or hostile.
