5th Set

  • VAYELECH

    What happens when we pass on our wisdom to the next generation? Here the Zohar speaks about this parsha where Moses is passing on leadership to Joshua. Above Moses are the vibrancies of what’s called Zer Anpin, which is the 7 upper cosmic sephirot, and more importantly, Moses is equated to the sun.  Joshua represents malchut ,the…

  • NITZAVIM

    Who are we? The Zohar speaks to this parsha that talks about Moses addressing all the people standing before him, and the commentary is that it isn’t just all the people that were there at the time, but all the people from every time, from our time; and specifically it talks about the 10 tribes that were…

  • KI TAVO

    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…

  • KI TEITZEI

    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…

  • SHOFTIM

    Who judges and how is judgement fair? The Zohar comments on this parsha’s mandates regarding the rule of law.  It is said that there must be two or three accusers before anyone can be brought to trial, and one of them must be willing to be the punishers ( the one with the rock) and…

  • RE’EH

    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,…

  • EIKEV

    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…

  • VA’ETCHANAN

    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…

  • DEVARIM

    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…

  • MASEI

    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.