A holy nation
Walking in God’s ways In Parashat Ki Tavo, we read the blessings that the Jewish people merit when we follow God’s commandments and the curses...
Category : Deuteronomy – Dvarim
Returning to a virgin state
Elul is the month of Divine compassion, the month in which we hear the blast of the shofar and are inspired to return wholeheartedly to...
Purifying the Power of Speech
In the part of the Zohar called Ra’aya Meheimna, Moses’ soul root reveals Torah secrets to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his students. The Ra’aya...
Seven state officials
The opening sentence of this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Shoftim, is “You shall place Judges and law enforcers at all of your gates that Havayah,...
Mind over heart
Shoftim is the 48th parashah of the Pentateuch. The number 48 is the numerical value of the word “mind” (מֹחַ), which immediately associates us with...
The Blessed Kingdom
The Cursed Kingdoms The first verse in Parashat Re’eh contains seven words, which correspond to the seven emotive sefirot (from loving-kindness to kingdom). The seventh...
The blessing of the tzadik
Parashat Re’eh begins with a seven-word verse, “Behold, I give before you today blessing and curse” (רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה). As with...
Drawing down blessing from Above
The Zohar on parashat Eikev discusses the verse, “You will eat and be satisfied and you shall bless Havayah, your God for the good land...
Completing Moses’ task
On the verse in this week’s parashah, “You have begun to show your servant…” the Zohar asks, What beginning is the verse referring to? It...
The gift of prayer
The Holy Land– the greatest gift of all The opening verse of this week’s Torah portion begins Moses’ account of how he prayed to enter...
