Chevre, this week’s parsha is Devarim (דברים). We always read this parsha before Tisha BeAv (the 9th of Av), which is Sunday. Tisha BeAv marks a number of calamities in Jewish History including the destruction of the 2 temples (which happened on the same day of the Jewish Calendar), the expulsion for Gan Eden, and others. We mark the day by sitting low, as if in mourning, fasting (25 hours) and reading Kinot or special poems/prayers about various crises the Jewish People have encountered over the years.

The book of Devarim is a repetition (often called the Mishnah Torah or the retelling of the Torah) and is mostly a long speach by Moshe before the Children of Yisrael cross the Jordan River and enter the land. We have the appointment of judges, the mission of the spies, the recounting of Seir and Moab, and the first conquest that needs to be made once crossing the Jordan.

In a technological world, we have an objective. We need to build this thing. We have a plan or an architecture. During a stand up meeting, we may review what happened and where we are at now. And then we talk about the next immediate steps.

So this Shabbat remember to drink extra water for the fast on Sunday. We can’t prepare for Sunday, but we also don’t want to become dehydrated.

May you all have a meaningful fast and a Shabbat Shalom.