As If You Bound Yourselves

G-d Gives Tests – and Provides the Answers

To Renew Our Days

Nitzavim-Vayelech

Nitzavim-Vayelech

In My Life, I’ve Loved Them All

Writing a Sefer Torah

The Various Meanings of Merei’im

Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim Vayeilech 5783

Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim Vayeilech 5783

Connecting Teshuva & the Final Redemption

Rav Yaakov Moshe Harlop, a venerated student of Rav Kook and one of the heads of Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav after his teacher's death, often spoke of the contemporary phenomenon of baalei teshuvah, returnees to Torah observance. The problem was that this was far from a widespread trend at the time – 80 years ago, give or take – and his students wondered what he was referring to. On the contrary, it seemed that society in the Land of Israel was deteriorating towards secularism...

Accepting Hashem’s Kingdom

Aroch Siach, Yamim Noraim, an address from 5714 (1953)

Chazal set a role for all of the special days. We should clarify to what extent the days fulfill their roles, including their special place within the year.

Heaven – or higher?!

Teshuva Is the Answer

This last Sedra of the year, Nitzavim, seems perfect as a precursor to Rosh Hashana. The sedra reiterates the bond & covenant we have with the Eternal.

Defeating Death

Only now, reaching Nitzavim, can we begin to get a sense of the vast, world-changing project at the heart of the Divine-human encounter that took place in the lifetime of Moses and the birth of Jews/ Israel as a nation.

Two Creations

from Aroch Siach, p. 8-9

The world was created twice – one that was preceded by a state of pre-creation, and another time after the world was already created. The first creation happened in the first month and the second one was in the seventh month.

Jewish Covenants

Covenants, in the Jewish sense of the word, are not altered by changing times and differing circumstances. A covenant has the ring of eternity, not only in time but also in content.

Playing an Active Role in History

Israel National Torah

A look into this week's Torah reading Nitzavim to understand the principle of mutual responsibility and what it's laws say about the importance of the Land of Israel to the existence of the Jewish nation.

The Stop and Go of Teshuva

Between Nitzavim and Matzeiva

Nitzavim-Vayelech

Connect the Dots

The Time of Kingdom Recognition – part I

Not Beyond the Sea