23 Elul 5780
September 12, 2020

Parashat Nitsavim
“You are standing”

Parashat Vayelech
“And he went”

Here are the Torah, Haftarah and suggested Brit Chadasha (New Testament) readings for this week. Listen to the current Portion readings from the Tree of Life Version here.

Nitsavim
• Deuteronomy 29:9(10)-30:20
• Isaiah 61:10-63:9
• John 15:1-11

Vayelech
• Deuteronomy 31:1-30
(No Haftarah is read for this portion. Instead,
it is read next week with Ha’azinu on Shabbat Shuvah.)
• Romans 10:1-17

The seven aliyot readings from the Torah for the combined portions Nitzavim and Vayelech begin at these verses:

1. Deuteronomy 29:9(10)
2. Deuteronomy 30:1
3. Deuteronomy 30:7
4. Deuteronomy 30:15
5. Deuteronomy 31:7
6. Deuteronomy 31:14
7. Deuteronomy 31:20

Maftir: Deuteronomy 31:28

The Key Person is Moshe (Moses), speaking to all Yisra’el (Israel), and Y’hoshua (Joshua).

The Scene is the wilderness east of the Promised Land, ready to cross over the Yarden (Jordan).

The Main Events in Nitsavim include all Yisra’el standing before ADONAI to enter His covenant; Moshe warning that idolatry will defile land and scatter people; choice between blessing and curse, life and death; God’s promise to regather us; reminder that Torah is in our mouths and hearts, not too hard to obey; command to choose life and listen to God’s Voice, so you and your sons will love long in the Land God promised to Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya’akov.

The Main Events in Vayelech include 120-year-old Moshe going out to continue his words for Yisra’el to be strong and of good courage; Y’hoshua’s role as Yisra’el’s new leader; Moshe writing down Torah to be read every seven years so all can hear and learn to obey; Moshe and Y’hoshua at the Tent of Meeting with God; the LORD telling about Moshe’s death and the people’s rebellion; a new song for Moshe to write down and teach as a witness against the people; command for Levites to carry the Torah in the ark; and people gathering to hear the HA’AZINU song.

This is in order to confirm you today as His people. So He will be your God, just as He promised you and just as He swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. Not with you alone am I cutting this covenant and this oath, but with whomever is standing here with us today before Adonai our God and with whomever is not here with us today.
(Deuteronomy 29:12-14 TLV)

The Haftarah

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out brightly, and her salvation as a blazing torch. Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name, which Adonai’s mouth will bestow. You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Adonai, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
(Isaiah 62:1-3 TLV)

The Brit Chadasha

Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. Abide in My love! If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.
(John 15:9-11 TLV)

Torah Portion readings and the associated Haftarah readings generally follow the Stone Edition Chumash and/or the Complete Jewish Bible. Verse numbering generally follows the Hebrew tradition, and where modern Christian traditions differ those verse numbers are shown in parentheses (). Haftarah readings generally follow the Ashkenazi tradition. Where the Sephardic tradition differs, the Haftarah portions are designated as (A) and (S). Suggested New Testament readings are taken from the Walk! series of Messianic Devotion Commentaries by Dr. Jeffrey Enoch Feinberg. The Key People, The Scenes, and The Main Events are taken from the Walk! series of Messianic Devotion Commentaries by Dr. Jeffrey Enoch Feinberg. Scripture taken from the Tree of Life Version (TLV) © 2015 by the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society. Used by permission of the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.