Vayeishev 5773Volume 9 · Issue 12

In the Hands of the Few

The mezuzah is quiet and unobtrusive (cf. Hilchos Teshuvah 3:4). If it protruded to such an extent as to cause one to awaken, it would presumably be invalid, for it would be lying improperly on the doorpost. How, then, does it cause one to awaken from slumber

In Chanukah & Purim · Chapter 4View Sefer

Vayechi 5773Volume 9 · Issue 15

Awaiting His Deliverance

The Talmud states (Sanhedrin 97b): Rav said, “All the Ends are gone,” meaning, all the Ends to which the Torah alludes have passed, “and the matter depends on nothing but repentance, and good deeds.” Shmuel said, “It is sufficient for a mourner to endure his mourning period.”

In On the Torah II · Chapter 75View Sefer

Tetzaveh-Zachor 5773Volume 9 · Issue 22

Joint Forces

The Second Temple was in a state of concealment (cf. Yoma 21b). We were all repentant; we had returned from exile subsequent to the punishments and subsequent to the great repentance of Purim. The cabbalists refer to the Second Temple as the visage of Leah

Behar-Bechukosai 5773Volume 9 · Issue 28

Personal Counting

In fact, Yom Kippur itself is a semblance of the Jubilee, its derivative. The Jubilee is when everything returns to be itself, and this finds expression in repentance.

In Omer & Shavuos · Chapter 10View Sefer

Bamidbar 5773Volume 9 · Issue 29

Integrated Reality

The Rambam rules (Hilchos Teshuvah 3:11) that a person who separates from the Community of Israel—not suffering with them, not fasting with them, and not rejoicing with them—but rather lives for himself, has no portion in the World to Come even

Shelach 5773Volume 9 · Issue 32

Cry of Life

…of the World to Come, some of which the Rambam enumerates (Hilchos Teshuvah 8:4): “And it is called by many names, like Mountain of God, His Holy Place, Path of Holiness, Courtyard of God…, and it is…

Chukas 5773Volume 9 · Issue 33

Revitalizing the Torah

…Living, Heritage of God, and many other titles (cf. Rambam Hilchos Teshuvah 8:4). Our World to Come is different from the World to Come of the Generation of the Desert. For them, This World was entirely…

In On the Torah V · Chapter 161View Sefer

Mattos-Masei 5773Volume 9 · Issue 36

The Listening Heart

that included Yehudah, Yissachar, and Zevulun (Bamidbar 2:3-7). Afterward was the banner that included Reuven, Shimon, and Gad (v.10-14). This was the banner of the encampment of Reuven, which traveled second (v.16), for as the Ramban explains, “Repentance is second to Torah” (ibid. 2:2).

In The Three Weeks · Chapter 11View Sefer

Nitzavim 5772Volume 9 · Issue 4

Individual Truth

Indeed, the two judgments are parallel, and it is even cited as law (Rambam Hilchos Teshuvah 3:3). Just as every person is examined, inspected, and judged at the time of his passing from the world, so also, every single year, each of those who enter the world is judged on the festival of Rosh Hashanah

In Days of Repentance · Chapter 30View Sefer