“You are children of G-d, your Master. You should not cut yourselves nor make a baldness between your eyes for the dead” (Deut. 14:1, Portion of Re’eh). No doubt that knowing we are children of G-d, that we can relate to Him as a child relates to a father, is fundamental to our service of G-d. What’s odd is that G-d informs us of this intimate relationship as part of His lesson about excessive mourning for the deceased. What’s the message there?

When faced with a tragic loss, especially of someone or something that we had grown to depend on, it’s natural to think “What’s going to be? How will life go on?” There’s a loss of security, a deep sense of loneliness. G-d says, “You are my children. I am your Father. The one who is closest to you is still here and He’s not going anywhere.” What a comforting thought! But it doesn’t end there. If you really think about what this means you can live life as a different person. Life with the All Powerful at your side, with you through EVERY challenge, is a life infused with the strength of the Divine; where there are no limits (Based on Nesivos Shalom & Seforno Deut 14:1)

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Mordechai Dixler
Program Director, Project Genesis/Torah.org

This week is Shabbos Nachamu, the “Sabbath of Consolation.” Following three weeks in which the weekly Haftarah spoke about the loss of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, leading up to Tisha B’Av, the Ninth of Av, we now have seven weeks during which we focus upon our hopes for the future, culminating in the final Redemption.

Rabbi Pinchas Winston, author of our weekly Perceptions on the Parsha, has written a booklet called Geulah B’Rachamim, Redemption with Mercy. It contains 60 short yet powerful daily lessons, helping Jewish readers to yearn for redemption. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of an anonymous supporter, he is offering this work to all Torah.org subscribers and visitors for only the cost of shipping and handling.

Please go to the order page to get your free copy!

May we soon merit to see the final redemption, which Rabbi Winston’s work will help us to keep in our daily thoughts and sincere prayers.

Good Shabbos!
Rabbi Yaakov Menken
Director, Project Genesis – Torah.org

“The teachings of the A-lmighty are pure,” “Toras Hashem Temima” (Tehillim/Psalms 19:8). The holy Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Hassidic movement and many schools of Kabbalah, takes the following novel approach to this popular verse: even after one has derived all the lessons one can from Torah study, plumbed the vast depths of the word of G-d, the secrets of the Torah still remain pure and untouched — the surface was barely scratched.

One can never master the wisdom of the the Torah — not even close. Yes, it’s a humbling thought, and it might seem a bit discouraging. Then again, to me at least, it’s actually exciting and empowering. Where else can you be assured that you will constantly uncover greater and greater gems of wisdom? What other investment of time and energy has absolute guaranteed returns — for eternity! Every gem that’s uncovered, reveals another peaking from beneath the surface. Such is the journey into the mind of the A-lmighty, as it were. As the Sages say, “If one says they toiled in the study of Torah and did not find new wisdom, don’t believe them!”

We’re in the midst of the “Three Weeks” period of mourning leading up to the Ninth of Av. Have a look at our articles and listen to our audio to prepare yourself for this tragic period on the Jewish calendar.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Mordechai Dixler
Program Director, Project Genesis / Torah.org