Every week brings us one step closer to Moshe's death and the Israelites entry into Israel. This week we begin with a charge, "when you go..." Another list of things they must do when they enter the land and a list of blessings and curses (for when they inevitably don't follow the rules). In our discussion this week we talked about memory and how we mark things to be remembered.
As I drew/wrote about a few years ago, the Israelites are told "As soon as you have crossed the Jordan into the land that your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones. Coat them with plaster and inscribe upon them all the words of this Teaching." (Deuteronomy 27:2-3)
At the time I chose to interpret it not literally, because how could each person write out an entire Torah on plaster covered stones?! But in our discussion of memory it sort of clicked. For me, drawing or writing is how I remember things. Before I had a smart phone, when I traveled, I would take my sketchbook and draw the places I wanted to remember. I would always rewrite my notes as a way to study for the test. The physical act is what helped me to remember, so maybe there is something to this after all.