How do we know our mistakes? This parsha is famed for its listing of harsh things that can befall us for abandoning truth. The parsha begins though, with the instruction to bring the first fruits we raise to the temple, showing our gratitude. The Zohar here speaks to checking our shadow which mystically contains our misdoings and…
Who shall be a soldier? The Zohar repeats the exception that when someone has just been married, or built a new home, or is tending a new vineyard – that person is not to be drafted. They are to rejoice for a year. 12 months and in this time, there can be spiritual expansion. The…
What shall we choose for our way? The Zohar deals with this question which is essential to Judaism and this parsha – which is our freedom to choose how we will live, what we believe, how we will behave and react. It is not predetermined. We are encouraged to choose between two paths, actually in this parsha,…
Who will protect us? What will protect us? The Zohar addresses this in commentary on the six words of the Shema prayer and its subsequent paragraphs that are in this parsha. These words are placed in mezuzahs attached to our doors and while we are in bed – maybe studying the wisdom of our ancestors which is recommended to be…
Who will be the next generations to advance the faith? The Zohar comments on the line in this week’s parsha’s when God speaks to Moses saying “speak no more” and though the rest of the book is in fact Moses’ words, the Zohar emphasizes that this is about taking the teaching and passing them on so others speak the…
Who protects us? The Zohar comments on the opening of this last book of Torah that Hashem – God – carries us in the wilderness like a father carrying his child, and back then, we were given the guidance in the night of the pillar of fire and the symbolic image of the snake broken by our…
How to reconstruct the Holy Temple? The Zohar advices that even in these troublesome days, we should make our table an altar – approach each meal in appreciation – washing our hands, purifying ourselves physically and spiritually. Blessing the abundance of food, the energy it gives us, to do good deeds.
What is the feminine gift? Here the Zohar speaks of wise hearted women combining Justice ( the color of red) and Mercy (the color of white). So here are some of these women – may they bless us with both. ( the colors they wear are from the different tribes – like blue for Judah, red for Rueben,…
Who are we? What comprises our soul? The Zohar addresses this, commenting on the disturbing story of Pinchas the grandson of the just deceased High Priest Aaron. Pinchas is enraged by the outrageous behavior of one of the princes of the tribe of Simeon who contemptuously disparaging the new faith has intercourse publicly with a Midianite woman before…