Having just experienced the most intimate time of the year, reflecting on our actions, we celebrate Sukkot and see a faceless nemesis.
In the study guide for V’zot Habracha, Vered Hollander-Goldfarb explores who is writing Moses’ death and what we can learn.
On the festival of Sukkot, we are commanded to dwell in temporary huts so as to remember the Israelites swaddled by God.
As we approach the end of the Torah cycle, we juxtapose two of our leading men—Moses from the Torah portion and King David from the haftarah.
As Moshe embarks on his final speech to the Israelites, the nation readies itself for the transition of leadership from Moshe to Joshua.
Parashat Haazinu is the poem that Moshe sings to the people of Israel before he delivers his deathbed blessing, discussing bright wings.
The study guide for Parashat Vayelech explores the shemitah that comes every seven years, especially discussing the connection to Sukkot.
This week we read about Moshe writing down the Torah, comparing that to Little House on the Prairie—the prairie and the wilderness.
Our haftarah, is the final of the seven haftarot of consolation. Humans question God, just as Red Riding Hood questions the Big Bad Wolf.
The study guide for this week’s parashah explores the physical acts of making a covenant, with commentary from Bechor Shor and Hizkuni.
Parashat Nitzavim, which we read just before Rosh Hashanah, speaks of the importance of repenting and returning to God after we have sinned.
During the seven haftarot of consolation, we return to the idea of Jerusalem reuniting with her children, once again able to care for them.
This week’s parashah focuses on an excerpt of the text that discusses the ownership of the land of Israel before the Israelite’s cross over.
Moshe charges the people to renew the terms of their covenant with God before entering the land, necessary for sins committed in secret.
This week’s haftarah, the fifth of the seven readings of consolation between Tisha B’Av and Rosh HaShana, talks about broken trust.
This week’s study guide looks at a passage from the parashah about what the Israelite camp should be like in the wilderness.
Family dynamics, and parents on the same page, are alluded to in the many commandments discussed in this week’s parashah.
We define ourselves by our covenant, by the terms of our relationship with God. It goes in cycles like grass—growing, dying, growing again.
This week’s study guide looks at the preparations made before going to war and the considerations that must be taken into account.
This parashah deals with the administration of justice in the land of Israel and the connection between no going back to Egypt.
In looking at this week’s haftarah, explore the concept of birth before labor, as demonstrated by the concept of labor pains in our stories.
The study guide for Parashat Re’eh looks at the relationship between the shmitah year, debts, loans, and tzedakah.
The Dvar Torah for Parashat Re’eh explores choosing between two paths, the long and the short of it, when the choices are presented.
This week’s haftarah compares the birthing of Israel in the generations recorded in the Torah with similar experiences in the haftarah.
The study guide for parashat Eikev explores the Shema and the mitzvot mandated by the sacred prayer, such as mezuzot and tefillin.
In this parashah, Moshe prepares the people for their entry into Israel, extolling the conduit of blessing that they are about to conquer.
This Shabbat is Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Comforting, so we explore if what it means to be alone or lonely.
This week’s study guide explores the danger of complacency in relation to our parashah, using commentary by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.
In this week’s parashah, we see a depiction of Moshe the Mother as he pleas with God to enter the land of Israel with the Israelites.
The study guide for parashat Devarim looks at the story of the twelve spies, in the books of Devarim and Numbers, and connects a midrash.
Deuteronomy presents an interesting paradox to the literary reader of the Bible in the form of Moshe’s memoir.
Simḥat Torah means “the joy of Torah” and is the name for the day on which the annual cycle of Torah readings begins and ends.