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Parshat HaAzinu In Parshat HaAzinu the Maor VaShemesh offers a remarkable way to understand notzer chesed, God “preserving kindness.” Sometimes God looks ahead to the teshuvah we have not yet done, the mitzvot we have

The Maor VaShemesh asks why the declaration accompanying Bikkurim tells the story of “Arami oved avi,” our descent to Egypt, the suffering there and the Exodus. What does any of this have to do with

In this week’s Parsha, the Maor VaShemesh finds two lessons about spiritual growth hidden in different parts of Ki Teitzei. The first begins with the laws of Eishet Yefat Toar. Chazal explain that the Torah permits

In this week’s parsha, Shoftim, the Maor VaShemesh gives us new insights into several familiar ideas. The parsha begins, “Shoftim v’shotrim titen lecha”, “Judges and officers you shall appoint for yourself.” Chassidic masters traditionally read this

This week’s Maor VaShemesh explores four seemingly different teachings that ultimately address a single question: How do we discover and remain connected to truth? Through community, humility, discernment, and authentic spiritual leadership, he shows that

This week’s Maor VaShemesh on Parshat Eikev presents four profound perspectives on spiritual growth. He explains that Gan Eden is not merely the reward for learning Torah, but the place where the infinite depth of

Devarim: In three interconnected teachings on the opening of Parashat Devarim, the Maor VaShemesh presents a profound vision of Jewish leadership and communal life. He begins by explaining why Moshe rebukes Israel only through allusion, despite addressing

Mattot: This week’s Maor VaShemesh explores two very different episodes, hatarat nedarim and the request of the tribes of Reuven and Gad, but uncovers a common theme. In the first, he explains that the annulment

In this week’s parsha, the Maor VaShemesh teaches that Pinchas did not earn Brit Shalom simply because he acted zealously. Many people perform mitzvot with alacrity. What made Pinchas unique was the extraordinary mesirut nefesh

In this week’s parsha, the Meor VaShemesh asks a deceptively simple question: why was Balak frightened specifically by what Israel did to the Amorites, and not by their defeat of Og, who was actually the

The Mystery of the Chok and the Mystery of the Rock In this week’s parsha, the Ma’or VaShemesh develops two fascinating ideas. First, in his introductory piece about Parah Adumah, he suggests that even those

The Ma’or Va-Shemesh sees Korach’s rebellion as far more than a challenge to Moshe’s leadership. The root of Korach’s error was separation. Onkelos translates “Vayikach Korach” as “Ve’itpaleg” (“he separated himself”), teaching that Korach tore apart realities that were meant to

Why send the spies at all? The story of the spies in Parshat Shelach is one of the most perplexing in all of the Torah. G-d promises the Jewish people a land flowing with milk

The Ma’or VaShemesh on Parshat Beha’alotecha develops two seemingly separate themes, the lighting of the Menorah and the inverted נו״ן surrounding “Vayehi Binso’a Ha’Aron” (“And it was when the Ark traveled”), but beneath the surface both are

Shavuot Shavuot is known as the holiday of Matan Torah, the giving of the Torah. But in the Ma’or Va-Shemesh, Torah is not presented merely as law, obligation, or even spiritual inspiration. It is presented

In this week’s parsha, the Ma’or Va-Shemesh develops a profound vision of spiritual growth, the inner nature of the Mishkan, and the deep spiritual connection between the leaders of Israel and the souls of the

Parshat Behar In Parshat Behar, the Ma’or Va-Shemesh reframes shemittah (the sabbatical year) as something much deeper than an agricultural mitzvah. He begins with a striking idea. The land itself committed a chet ha’aretz (a “sin of the land”)

In this week’s parsha, in the middle of the discussion of the mo’adim, the Torah introduces a seemingly unrelated mitzvah: when you harvest your field, do not take it all the way to the edge.

In this week’s Torah portions, Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, the Ma’or VaShemesh reads the two parshiot as two stages in a single process in avodat Hashem. “Acharei Mot,” after the death of Nadav and Avihu,

The Meor VaShemesh understands Tazria and Metzora as one continuous spiritual process. In Tazria, he explains that holiness enters the world through Itaruta d’letata, an arousal or awakening from below. God structured creation so that