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Hello {{first_name}} ​​​​​​​ ,
Zmanim this week are as follows:

The Rov will be giving a shiur in Hilchos Tefillah on Shabbos afternoon at 5:30. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

We would like to thank Shlomo Rosenstein, as he steps down from his position, for his efforts in handling the procurement of the weekly Dvar Torah. The role will be capably filled by R' Nesanel Horowitz.

The seating in the shul this week will be altered to allow room for additional persons.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!
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Dvar Torah

רְאֵ֗ה אָֽנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה…. אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְע֗וּ אֶל־מִצְו‍ֹת֙….והַקְּלָלָ֗ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְו‍ֹת֙...וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לָלֶ֗כֶת אַֽחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם
Initially, the first several pasukim of this week’s parsha seem to be well aligned. Klal Yisroel is told that they will receive bracha if they listen to mitzvos and will be cursed if they do not listen to mitzvos. Yet, the Torah seems to divert from this choice of bracha or klalla and appends further with וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לָלֶ֗כֶת אַֽחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם. Rashi explains that this is to say that one who worships idols is a kofer bakol (heretic). The Sifsei Chachamim seems to say that the phraseology of וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ, based on what Rashi is saying, must imply worshiping idols. But why is this added while only introducing the threat of klallos? What is behind the reasoning for Rashi to say that “straying from the path” means idol worship, and why is this still added after introducing the threat of curses? Are we only cursed if we are kofer bakol?
The Torah is usually specific with commandments. We are usually told to watch these mitzvos or all the mitzvos etc. It is more rare to see simply mitzvos. We do see this used when referring to ahavas Hashem (Devarim, 11;13), v’halachta b’drachav, emulating His ways (Devarim, 28;9), and l’tov lach, for our benefit (Devarim, 10;13). Following mitzvos is more than successfully checking off the boxes of the 613 commandments we are blessed to observe. Following mitzvos is a mindset and way of life. If we do not see Hashem as a role model, guide, and even friend, then we are missing something profoundly fundamental to our Jewish identity. וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ is the subsequent result of viewing Hashem as merely a taskmaster and micromanager. Those who see Hashem, His Torah and His mitzos in general, as cold and judgemental will ultimately stray. This is not what He wants. He wants a relationship. It is our responsibility to seek it and to help others discover it. 
May we continue to serve HKB”H with a yearning for understanding His ways and to emulate His greatness.
Good Shabbos,
Moshe Schwartz