Author: Rebbitzen Rachel
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Rebbetzin’s Reflection Nitzavim
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The Heart of the Matter Parshat Nitzavim is traditionally read on the Shabbos immediately preceding Rosh Hashanah. In a parsha consisting of only forty pesukim, the Hebrew word for heart (lev—לֵב) appears an astonishing eleven times and is heavily concentrated within the pesukim of teshuva (Devarim 30:1–10), where it appears…
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Rebbetzin’s Reflection Ki Savo
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The joy of grounded gratitude After generations of waiting, Bnei Yisrael finally entered Eretz Yisrael. This was a dream for generations. The parsha starts with Bikkurim: The farmer brings his first fruits and declares: “הִגַּדְתִּי הַיּוֹם לַה׳ אֱלֹקיךָ כִּי בָאתִי אֶל הָאָרֶץ…” “I declare today… that I have come to…
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Rebbetzin’s Reflection Ki Teitzei
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Everything is Awesome…sometimes! “Ki teitzei” When you go out.(Devarim 21:10) Ki Teitzei does not promise that life will stay predictable. Its opening words, “when you go out,” recognize that life regularly takes us beyond the familiar. The parsha gives us a Torah response: expect the unexpected and, prepare for it.…
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Rebbitzen’s Reflection
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Parshas Shoftim: A Different Kind of Strength A Different Kind of Strength When I traveled to Israel in November 2023 with a group of rebbitzens and lay leaders, in the aftermath of the unfathomable, we knew we wanted to do anything we could to help. Truthfully, we also knew there…
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Rebbitzen’s Reflection
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Parshas Re’eh: Seeing Clearly “See—I place before you today blessing and curse.” (Devarim 11:26) Moshe opens this week’s parsha with one powerful word: “Re’eh”—”See.” Moshe doesn’t begin by saying listen or understand. He says, see. Summer has a way of shifting our focus. With August here and Elul approaching, it’s…