Jerusalem: From Creation to Redemption
One section of this week’s parsha that is particularly resonant this year is the commandment of Hakhel. During the Sukkot…
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Jerusalem In One’s Heart
This week’s parsha begins with a covenant being created between God and the Jewish people. After telling the Jewish people…
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Catching the Light of Jerusalem
When describing the mitzvah of bikkurim, the Torah emphasizes that the farmer should put the fruits into a basket for…
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Expanding from the Center
In our Haftorah, the prophet Yeshayahu turns to Yerushalayim and tells her to grow: “Enlarge the site of your tent,…
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Jerusalem As A Goal
Our parsha contains many laws of war. The Torah teaches us about who should go to war and who should…
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Charity and the Redemption of Jerusalem
The centrality of Yerushalayim is a major theme in our parsha. For example, in the beginning of the parsha, we…
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A Past and Present Connection
Our parsha explores the nature of the Jewish people’s connection to the Land of Israel. Interestingly, it seems that there…
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The All-Inclusive Redemption
This week is known is Shabbat Nachamu, when we read the beautiful haftorah of consolation. As usual, it is also…
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The Mourning of Jerusalem
One of the most iconic and stirring kinnot is “Eli Tzion.” The opening line and refrain reads as follows: “Wail…
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The End of the Journey
Our parsha opens with a list of the forty-two stations at which the Jewish people stopped in their journey through…
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