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On Sukkot, we take the arba minim — the lulav, etrog, hadasim, and aravot, and hold them together. Each one represents a different kind of Jew. Some are full of Torah and mitzvot, some are still growing. But the mitzvah isn’t done with one — it only counts when they’re united. That’s the message of…
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After weeks of inner growth from Elul through Yom Kippur, we arrive at Sukkot — when everything spiritual becomes real. On Rosh Hashanah we crowned Hashem as King. On Yom Kippur we were purified. And on Sukkot, we live that connection through emunah — stepping out of our solid homes into Hashem’s shade, trusting His…
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As Moshe closes his song of Haazinu and prepares to leave this world, he gives us one last message: “For it is not an empty thing from you, for it is your life. And through this matter you will lengthen your days on the land…” (Devarim 32:47) The Torah is never empty. If it ever…
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Haazinu is written as a song. A song can’t be understood by hearing only one note. To appreciate it, you need the whole melody. And once it’s inside you, every lyric pulls you back to a moment, a place, a memory. That’s what Haazinu does: “Remember the days of old, understand the years of generation…
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In Parshat Vayelech, Hashem tells Moshe that after his death, Bnei Yisrael will turn to other gods, and as a result, He will “hide His face.” At first glance, it sounds like a punishment. But really, it’s a natural consequence. Hashem is everywhere. In every blade of grass, in every detail of the human body,…
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The Gemara asks: Where is Esther hinted to in the Torah? Chazal point to this week’s parsha:“וְאָנֹכִי הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא” — “I will surely hide My face on that day.”The words haster astir allude to Esther, and to Hashem’s hiddenness in the Purim story. The Ramban explains: hester panim means Hashem withdraws His…
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In this week’s parsha, Nitzavim, the Torah tells us: “And you shall return to Hashem your God, and listen to His voice… with all your heart and all your soul” (Devarim 30:2). Notice — the pasuk doesn’t say “return from sin”, but “return to Hashem.” Teshuva is not about running away from suffering or punishment.…
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Standing Together in Unity Parshat Nitzavim opens: “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem” — you are all standing here today. Every Jew, from leaders to water carriers, stood together before Hashem. Chazal teach this is arvut — kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh — we are responsible for one another. That unity is not only the opening of…
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It’s easy to make promises about what we’ll do if we have abundance.“If I win the lottery, I’ll give so much tzedaka. I’ll do endless chesed.” We’ve all said it, at least in our hearts. But here’s the truth: the challenge isn’t in making those promises before the blessing comes—it’s in following through once it…
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Parshat Ki Tavo opens with the mitzvah of bikurim, the first fruits a farmer brings to Yerushalayim. But more than just produce, bikurim is a declaration of bitachon (trust in Hashem). The Sifrei explains that in the farmer’s words— “Arami oved avi, vayered Mitzrayma… We went down to Egypt small in number, became great, were…
