This week’s parsha is short, but it holds some of the Torah’s deepest principles. Moses gathers the people before God, reminding them that unity is the starting point of Jewish life: “You are standing today, all of you.” He speaks of exile and return, of redemption, and of freedom of choice. Life and death, blessing and curse are set before us and it is up to us to choose.
As Rosh Hashanah approaches, the message feels especially timely. Nitzavim reminds us that Torah is not distant or abstract. It is within reach, ready to be lived and acted upon. Renewal is possible, change is attainable, and the work of teshuvah can be done with joy.
So how do we take that first step into the new year, with resolve, with community, and with gladness? Tune in to find out.
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19:24
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19:24
Ki Tavo
This week’s parsha introduces the mitzvah of bikurim—bringing the first fruits to Jerusalem, handing them to the priest, and speaking words of thanks. It’s not enough to feel gratitude; we must declare it out loud, with joy, and connect our personal harvests to the larger story of our people.
So what are the “first fruits” in our own lives today, and how can we offer them with joy and purpose? Tune in to find out.
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20:09
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20:09
Ki Teitzei
This week’s parsha opens with a farewell speech from Moses and lays out 74 commandments, the most of any single Torah portion. They cover everything from inheritance laws to caring for lost property, from ethical treatment of workers to remembering Amalek’s assault.
Amid so many instructions, one mitzvah stands out this Elul: Lo tachalel alem—“Do not remain indifferent.” If you see a lost ox, a stray sheep, or a person in need, you cannot just walk by. The Torah doesn’t politely suggest; it commands that we act. And our commentators expand this: the principle applies to every corner of life, from forgotten objects to “lost souls” disconnected from their community.
The lesson is simple but profound: each mitzvah is a chance to connect the physical and the divine, to bring holiness into the world. Whether returning a lost item, giving charity, or observing daily rituals, we are invited to participate in a partnership with God, sanctifying our lives in concrete, tangible ways.
So as the school year begins and Elul marches on, how can we turn everyday acts into opportunities to reveal goodness and care in the world? Tune in to find out.
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18:21
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18:21
Shoftim
This week’s parsha opens with Moses’ command: "Appoint judges and officers at all your gates." On the surface, it’s about building a legal system. But our commentators go deeper: every person is a city, with gates of eyes, ears, and mouth. And just as a city needs judges and guards, so do we.
Elul is the season of checking what enters and leaves those gates. What do we choose to see? What do we let ourselves hear? What words do we send into the world? To judge ourselves is hard; to guard ourselves is even harder. But this month, Moses’ call is clear: take one step, however small, toward making those gates holy.
So how do we begin—by lofty resolutions or by one small, practical change?
Tune in to find out.
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20:05
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20:05
Re'eh
This week’s parsha, Re’eh, opens with a challenge: See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. Moses tells the Israelites that faith isn’t just about words; it’s about the power of choice. Every moment offers us the chance to step toward blessing, or away from it.
The timing is no accident. As we prepare to enter the month of Elul—the 40-day journey toward Yom Kippur—this call to “see” becomes even more urgent. These days are not just about repentance, but about vision: What do we want to change? Where do we want to begin again? Re’eh reminds us that choosing blessing often happens in small, decisive moments that ripple out for decades.
So how do we train ourselves to truly see and to begin today to walk in the direction of blessing?
Tune in to find out.
Each week, Israeli journalist and Torah scholar Sivan Rahav-Meir and Tablet’s own Liel Leibovitz discuss the week’s parsha, giving practical advice from our holiest book.
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