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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Shiluach Hakan, Honoring Parents, and the Power of Bitachon You’re walking a quiet trail and see a bird’s nest. A mother bird hovers protectively over her young. The Torah says: send away the mother, then take the eggs, “it will be good for you, and your days will be lengthened.” Ramban explains this mitzvah cultivates…
Hashem wants us to love one another — not only in words, but in how we see, judge, and treat each other.Parshat Shoftim opens: “V’shaftu et ha’am mishpat tzedek” — judge the people with righteous judgment. The Rachmastrivka Rebbe explains that we begin Elul with Shoftim because as we prepare for Rosh Hashana and our…
“Let me go over and see the good land…” Moshe Rabbeinu, the greatest leader in our history, pleads with Hashem to enter Eretz Yisrael.He doesn’t ask for comfort, reward, or recognition.All he wants is to step foot in the land Hashem promised. Chazal ask: Why did Moshe want to enter Eretz Yisrael so badly? Was…