Torah For Today

(scenarios) What would you do?

You’re hanging out with your friends. You see, walking towards you, one of the most unpopular kids in school – doesn’t do sports, isn’t a good student, and is generally a disagreeable character. Your friends start making fun of this “loser”. What do you do?
Your younger sister (pretend you have one if you really don’t) has a friend who comes to your house in tears. She tells your sister (and you, as you are in the room, too) that she saw some kids throw stones at a dog. What do you tell her?
You’re playing catch with a friend and break your neighbor’s window. What do you do?
The kid who lives across the street from makes fun of you at school. After school she comes to you and apologizes. What do you do?

What Does This Parshah Mean to Me?

What types of rules do you think this portion means for us to follow? What about those that we shouldn’t follow?
What do you think the phrase “the punishment fits the crime” means? Do you think this is always valid? Can you think of exceptions?
The portion talks about God establishing God’s abode among the people. What do you think that means?
The portion describes how illness will be a punishment for disobeying God’s laws. Do you think this really means people will be sick? What’s another way of understanding this?