In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shoftim, the Torah famously instructs us: צֶדֶק צֶדֶק, תִּרְדֹּף לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ - Righteousness, Righteousness shall you pursue, so that you may live and take possession of the land that Hashem, your G-d, is giving you (Devarim 16:20). Rashi (ibid)...
This Shabbos Kodesh and Yom Rishon (Shabbos and Sunday) we mark the days of Rosh Chodesh Elul… It is hard to believe, but it is Elul once again. The final, impactful, hopefully awe-inspiring, stirring month of the year. If we have been lax in our avodas...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Eikev, Moshe reminds the Bnei Yisrael of the Divine food, the Heavenly manna, that sustained them for their forty-year desert wanderings. הַמַּאֲכִלְךָ מָן בַּמִּדְבָּר, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדְעוּן אֲבֹתֶיךָ: לְמַעַן עַנֹּתְךָ, וּלְמַעַן נַסֹּתֶךָ לְהֵיטִבְךָ בְּאַחֲרִיתֶךָ - (Do not forget Hashem) Who feeds...
This week’s parsha, Parshas V’Eschanan, opens with Moshe’s fervent tefillos, asking Hashem that he be allowed into Eretz Yisrael - a request which, ultimately, was denied. Moshe reviews the Aseres Ha’Dibros (The Ten Commandments) with the people, reminding them (and us) of our obligations to...
Dear Friends, For your interest, here is the link to my Tisha B’Av shiur, presented at the YI Woodmere. https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/930022/mrs-michal-horowitz/eichah-unique-permission-to-ask-why-/ Enjoy and feel free to share with others. Kol tuv and besuros tovos for all. Michal...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Devarim, is always read erev Tisha B’Av (and this year is read on 9 Av itself). Why the juxtaposition of Parshas Devarim to Tisha B’Av? In perek alef (Chapter 1), Moshe recalls the sin of the spies, who went up the scout...
As Sefer Bamidbar closes, in its final two parshios of Mattos and Masei, we read of two narratives centered around the chashivus (importance) of Eretz Yisrael. At the end of Mattos, the tribes of Reuven and Gad request their portion of land on the eastern side...
During this time of year, when we mourn for the destruction of Tzion and Yerushalayim, for the churban Beis Ha’Mikdash and the loss of our holy places, we remember all churbanos (all destructions) that have befallen our people since the Second Temple was destroyed by...
In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Parshas Pinchas, the drama from last week’s parsha (Balak) continues to unfold. Parshas Balak ended tragically, as the prince of the tribe of Shimon, Zimri, publicly lays with the princess of Midyan, Kozbi. In an act of zealotry to...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Balak, Balak the king of Moav, fearing the strength of the Jewish nation encamped on his borders, hires Bilaam to curse the Jewish people. Balak is afraid that he will not be able to militarily defeat Am Yisrael, but if...