Divrei Mav

Parshas Ki Savo 2018 Cultivating Your Excitement “You shall observe and perform with all your heart & with all your soul .” ( Deuteronomy 26:16) Moshe was teaching the mitzvos (commandments) to the Jewish people again before he passed & before they entered into Eretz Yisrael (Israel). He urged them to be careful to fulfill each of the mitzvos . However, the Ramban adds that Moshe was really imploring the people to observe the mitzvos with all their heart and soul, to the fullest. While Rashi understands this to mean, Moshe wanted the people to observe the mitzvos as though the mitzvos were given today. To observe the Torah as though the opportunity was just given to us from Hashem , Himself today. A few years back, I met an older Jewish fellow. He was a very friendly man from out-of-town. After no more than five minutes of brief talk, he looked at me & asked smiling, “Tell me, when you put your tefillin on every morning, do you do it with the same ...

Parshas Ki Seitzei 2018 Falling From A Height Did you know, if you have a flat rooftop, you have a Torah obligation to construct a fence around that roof? “ When you build a new house, you must make a railing for your roof. ” ( Deuteronomy 22:8) This mitzvah (commandment) has a very simple and obvious purpose -safety. The Jewish people were entering into a land where they would build settlements and dwell. Now that they would be building homes Hashem gave them this mitzvah for their well being. Why is this a mitzvah though? Usually mitzvos elevate us spiritually and connect us with Hashem . Building a fence around one’s rooftop doesn’t seem to have any “spiritual elevation” to it. This mitzvah can be interpreted in another vein as well. This law can be attributed to a newlywed couple about to begin the exciting and grand endeavor of building a house. As they begin to take on this challenge and the all the gashmius (materialism) that goes with it, the Torah g...

Parshas Shoftim 2018 Judges in Elul Our parsha ( Torah portion) elaborates on the laws pertaining to having a functional judicial system in place amongst the Jewish community. The pasuk says, “You shall appoint judges and officers for your tribes, in all the settlements…” ( Deuteronomy 16:18) This mitzvah (commandment) applies in any town whose population exceeds 120 people. This community is required to have a beis din ( Torah qualified court) of three men. Consequently, this parsha is always read during this particular time of year, the month of Elul which is the month before the Yomim Noraim (high holy days) of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur . Elul is an auspicious time for self improvement! During the month of Elul Jews are to contemplate the previous year, recalling both the mitzvos and the avairos they were involved with and develop strategy to improve in both areas and to repent. Our Sages teach that when the Torah instructs the Jewish people a...

Parshas Re’eh 2018 Choosing Your Life “See this day I have set before you blessing and curse. A blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your G-d that I enjoin upon you this day. And a curse, if you do not...” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28) Moshe continues to verbal prepare the Jewish people for their arrival in the land of Israel. We find he clearly tells them TO observe the commandments and NOT to disobey. Taking a closer look at the lashon (language) used by Moshe in this very first pasuk (passage) he seems to throw in, “ Hayom ” (“ this day ”) he is placing before us blessing and curse. What is the significance of that day in particular that became immortalized in the Torah’s scripture? In truth, Moshe wasn't speaking about that day. What he was saying was everyday you're alive, everytime you learn this section realize you have a choice between right and wrong; blessing and curse. “This day” is referring to today and everyday. Opportunities fo...