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Parshat Shoftim asks a powerful question: What does God expect from us as we move toward redemption? From justice and leadership to courage and faith, this week's Torah portion reveals that redemption is not only something we wait for—it is something we are called to participate in.
Madlik Podcast – Torah Thoughts on Judaism From a Post-Orthodox Jew
We usually associate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with judgment and fear, but a closer look at the texts reveals a completely different, shocking command: rejoice. Wake up. Shake off the dust. Put on your finest clothes—and rejoice! The haftarah for Parshat Shoftim delivers an urgent wake-up call to a defeated and demoralized people: Hit'oreri, hit'oreri—Awaken, awaken! Uri, uri—Wake up, wake up! Isaiah calls upon Zion to rise from the dust, cast off the identity of a captive, dress herself in garments of splendor, and reclaim her place as God's beloved. Key Takeaways Consolation demands action - Isaiah does not tell Zion simply to feel better. He commands her to awaken, shake off the dust, change her clothes, and reclaim her identity. Lecha Dodi turns prophecy into practice - Every Friday night, Isaiah's distant promise of redemption becomes a present experience: we welcome the Sabbath bride with "exceedingly great joy" and rehearse the possibility of beginning again. The High Holidays are not only about fear - Nehemiah commands the people to rejoice on Rosh Hashanah, while the Mishnah calls Yom Kippur one of Israel's most joyous days. God's kingship brings awe—but also confidence, consolation, and radical delight. Timestamps [00:00] Wake Up Call [01:08] From Shabbat to High Holidays [01:30] Welcome to Madlik [02:22] Haftarah Calendar Context [04:34] Isaiah Readings [10:07] Repetition and Urgency [15:07] Lecha Dodi Origins [20:37] Simcha and Transformation [21:27] Sponsor Break [22:35] Marriage and New Garments [27:43] Unetaneh Tokef to Nehemiah [30:50] Confidence and Joy [32:38] Wrap Up and Challenge Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/742586 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/
Ohr HaChaim explains the reference in the pesukim to ones battle with the yetzer hara, the pitfalls and the only way to overcome them.
Parshat Shoftim: Lamborghinis, Ferraris and magicians!?!
The Chafetz Chaim tries to understand a fascinating shift in language in a Pasuk regarding the Melech.
What does it take to build a society where justice is truly shared? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Tani Cohen-Fraade explore Parshat Shoftim and the Torah's vision for building a just society. Through judges, kings, priests, and prophets, they consider why leadership requires different voices and sources of authority. The conversation asks what these ancient models can teach us today about responsibility, good leadership, and our shared role in pursuing justice.
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Torah Class - Parshat Shoftim: A War for All of UsThe Torah's perspective on our frontline soldiers, Torah learners, recognizing Divine miracles, and our collective responsibility as a nation.
Learning Weekly from Lessons in Tanya chapter 48 we begin to further discuss how The Tzimtzum is Good. The King from Parshat Shoftim an aspect of Moach sholet Al Halev, Shines the Light of Chabad and Abundant Rachamim aka Mercy - at Shirat David Efrat erev Chodesh Elul... Ty Bnei-Aliyah.com for the Tanya Summary... Ty to all the recent sponsors specifically R Ezra etc... Cover
This shiur explores the month of Elul as a time for reflection and spiritual preparation, delves into its deeper meanings and dualities, and highlights the importance of appointing a Rav or spiritual guide. It connects Elul's themes with lessons from Parshat Shoftim on leadership and personal growth. https://www.torahrecordings.com/classes/by_parsha/005_devarim/005_shoftim/020
This week's conversation with Dr. Yael Ziegler explores the parallels between this week's prophecy of comfort and earlier, painful images from the book of Eicha that Yeshayahu flips on their head. The prophet also reminds his listeners that God can bring redemption with the same strong arm He used to take us out of Egypt. This episode has been sponsored in honor of the birthday celebration of Dr. Maurice Brygel of Melbourne, Australia. This year the Matan Podcast is exploring the weekly Haftarah.
Tisha B'Av, Rosh Hashanah, and the Power of Remembering According to the Zohar, one of the central themes of Tisha B'Av is forgetting God . Where do we see this? It says that when Yaakov Avinu had his wrestling match with Esav's angel, it took place on Tisha B'Av—the time when Esav was granted the power to impact Yaakov and bring about the Galut (exile). As we know, Esav's angel displaced Yaakov's sciatic nerve, the Gid Hanasheh . That is the simple explanation. The Deeper Meaning of Gid Hanasheh The Zohar expands on this by asking: what does Nasheh actually mean? Simply put, nasheh means to be dislocated, as the root nash means "to move." However, the Zohar points out , nasha means to forget, making the Gid Hanasheh the sinew of forgetting . Its spiritual essence causes a person to forget God. We see the word נשה meaning to forget when Yosef said, "Ki nashani" —"For God has caused me to forget ." As we know, the human body has 365 sinews, which correspond to the 365 solar days of the year and the 365 negative commandments ( mitzvot lo ta'aseh ). Each day has a matching component in man, in time, and in the Torah: In man: The physical Gid Hanasheh . In mitzvot: The prohibition against eating the Gid Hanasheh . In time: The fast of Tisha B'Av. Furthermore, the words "Et Gid" ( ) contain a hidden hint to all the dark fast days of the Churban (destruction): Et ( ): Refers to Tisha Av ( ). Gimmel ( ): The 3rd day of Tishrei— Tzom Gedalia . Yud ( ): The 10th of Tevet— Asara B'Tevet . Dalet ( ): The fast of the 4th month (Tammuz)— Shiva Asar B'Tammuz ( Tzom Harevii ). Another connection between Yaakov and the Churban on Tisha B'Av is the custom to place a stone under one's pillow on Tisha B'Av night. This stems from Yaakov Avinu placing stones around his head when he slept. Some teachings suggest that Yaakov's dream also occurred on Tisha B'Av; that is why he saw the spiritual guardians of the nations ascending and descending, and why he became terrified when he saw Edom (Esav) ascending without coming down. Regardless, we see that the primary force of Tisha B'Av is the force of forgetting . Rosh Hashanah: The Remedy of Zikaron The way we fight back against this spiritual forgetfulness is through Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is Yom Hazikaron —the Day of Remembrance. Simply speaking, we often explain this as the day when God remembers us, which is true. However, Rav Moshe Feinstein offers a deeper insight: "remembrance" in this context means God remembering our memory of Him . The secret to our success on Rosh Hashanah is our active remembrance of God. The more we keep God in our thoughts, the more He remembers us—as we say in the Retzei Vhachaletzanu addition to Birkat HaMAzo on Shabbat : if we do not forget the Beit Hamikdash , God will not forget us. Our act of not forgetting Him and His act of not forgetting us are intrinsically linked. Of course, God never literally forgets us. When it appears He has forgotten, it is merely hester panim (the hiding of His Face). In truth, God is always watching us— metzitz min hacharakim (peeking through the lattices). In the haftarah of Parshat Shoftim, the Jewish people claim, "God has forgotten me and forsaken me." God responds: "Can a mother forget her nursing child?" Hashem adds that even if a human mother could somehow forget her child, "I will never forget you." What Does It Mean to Forget? "Forgetting" in a spiritual sense does not mean complete amnesia—like forgetting a computer password. It means that something is no longer at the forefront of your mind . If someone asks you today, "Did you think about your eighth-grade rebbi today?" You would say, "No." Did you forget who he is? No, but he was "forgotten" in the sense that he was not on your mind. Similarly, when the prophet asks if a mother could forget her child, it doesn't mean she forgot his name; it means she became distracted and left him behind. He wasn't on her mind at that moment. Conversely, Zikaron (remembrance) means actively bringing something to mind and setting it into action. The word Zachar (male/remember) is connected to action—males represent active givers, whereas females represent recipients. Therefore, to "remember" God means to actively keep Him on the front burner of our minds. When we do this, we, so to speak, put ourselves at the forefront of His mind in an active, dynamic way. Standing Before the "Spiritual MRI" The Zichronos —the section of Mussaf where we declare that God remembers all actions—is the most critical part of our Rosh Hashanah prayers. Malchuyot: Acknowledges Hashem's sovereignty—a fundamental pillar of emunah (faith) as we crown Him King. Shofrot: Recalls the revelation at Har Sinai. Zichronos: The part most personal to us, as we read how God reviews every individual's life—who will live, who will die, which countries will experience war or peace. When you internalize that God is examining your every deed, thought, and mission, it is terrifying. Rav Wolbe compares Zichronos to passing through an MRI machine. It doesn't scan for physical ailments, but for spiritual ones. What will the test results be? Usually, when you take a medical test, you get the results in a few days. But the results of this spiritual MRI do not come immediately. You only find out the results as the year unfolds: Will you buy that new house? What will happen with your health, concerns, and challenges? Since no one is handed their results on the spot, a person could theoretically sit on pins and needles all year worrying. So how do we protect ourselves? The "Life Jacket" of Ein Od Milvado Rav Wolbe notes that right in the middle of the Zichronos prayers, the Torah gives us a spiritual life jacket to keep us from drowning in fear: (Fortunate is the person who does not forget You, the human who draws strength from You.) By actively remembering God and keeping Him on our minds, we create a shield of protection. This is the essence of "Ein Od Milvado" —the ultimate realization that there is nothing in existence other than God. Rav Matisyahu Salomon quotes a powerful idea regarding this concept, citing a famous story about the Brisker Rav (a descendant of the Nefesh HaChaim ). While escaping the Nazis on a train in wartime Europe without papers, the Brisker Rav instructed his children: "Just focus entirely on the concept of Ein Od Milvado. Think only of God." As a Nazi officer approached them, the Rav briefly had a momentary lapse in focus, caught himself, and re-centered his mind on Ein Od Milvado . The Nazi turned around and walked away. Rav Matisyahu Salomon points out: If someone told you that a month from now you'd be trapped on a train surrounded by Nazis, what would you do? You would spend every single day practicing Ein Od Milvado ! There is a similar story about the Beis HaLevi (also a descendant of the Nefesh HaChaim ). The Russian authorities had blockaded a town to search warehouses for contraband goods—which many local Jews traded in out of financial necessity. One merchant, terrified because his warehouse was full of illegal goods, ran to the Beis HaLevi after Shacharit . The Beis HaLevi told him: "We are going to sit right here and study the concepts of Ein Od Milvado in the Nefesh HaChaim until it is crystal clear to you." They spent the entire morning engrossed in this study. By lunchtime, the inspectors reached the merchant's warehouse and marked an 'X' on the door before leaving for lunch. When two different inspectors came by after lunch, one saw the 'X' and said, "We already checked this one," and walked past. The man was saved. Bringing Remembrance Into Action Rav Matisyahu Salomon explains that Rosh Hashanah is our personal Ein Od Milvado moment. We need Hashem on our minds the entire day, and the entire month of Elul is designed to prepare us for this focus. We even bring this mindfulness into our Rosh Hashanah festive meals through the Simanim (symbolic foods). The Meiri asks: Why do we recite the Yehi Ratzon requests in the middle of the meal rather than before it? He explains that the prayers were recited as people ate. Why? Because we don't want to forget God even while eating! When we eat pomegranate salad, we recite Yirbu Mitzvotenu K'Rimon to connect the food back to God. When we eat the head of a lamb, we recall Akeidat Yitzchak . Every step of the way—even during a physical meal—is about keeping Hashem at the forefront of our minds. Rav Wolbe teaches that we must maximize every single second of Rosh Hashanah. While it takes effort, keeping God in our thoughts is the ultimate antidote to the spiritual forgetfulness of Tisha B'Av, realigning our lives and ushering in a sweet, blessed new year.
This week is Parshat Shoftim, which contains instructions for establishing a just society, including laws for judges, law enforcement, kings, and warfare. It makes me think of the laws we currently have for our society and I wonder how practical they are. Where do we go from here? What should change and what should remain the same?Thanks for being on this journey with us!
Rabbi Dunner explores the Torah's command in Parshat Shoftim to follow the guidance of our sages — even when they disagree, and even when they might be wrong. Drawing on sources from Chazal to the Rambam, and more recent commentaries, Rabbi Dunner shows how and why emunat chachamim remains the cornerstone of Jewish survival.
BH"Relate" to your kids. But be the parent
Shiur dedicado à Refuá Sleimá de Eliakim Ben NaomiSe esta aula lhe tocou e você deseja contribuir para que mais pessoas tenham acesso, faça uma doação.Chave Pix: 43.154.897/0001-10 (CNPJ)Cada contribuição ajuda a manter as aulas gratuitas e expandir o alcance.
Adolf Hitler learned that ballots can be more powerful than bullets — and used that lesson to dismantle German democracy from within. Today, Islamist movements are following the same playbook, exploiting demographics and the ballot box to advance their agenda. Rabbi Dunner presents a lesson from Parshat Shoftim, which reminds us: unless we guard our gates, freedom itself is at risk.
The Ohr HaChaim explains the verses as a reference to the everlasting battle with the yetzer hara and the way to overcome
Parshat Shoftim - 2025 - פרשת שופטים
Aula ministrada 28/08/2025 para os alunos da Yeshiva.
The Radomsker Rebbe introduces us to a special power that Hashem has bestowed upon the Bnei Yisrael.
What is the significance of the courts and judges being spread out between Jerusalem and all the various individual cities? What are some of the main ideas behind the series of commandments found in this week's parsha in setting up a just society? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!
On this edition of Shmooze Radio (originally aired 8/10/10) Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky brings you his message on Parshat Shoftim.
When tragedy strikes, what does true responsibility look like? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Sefi Kraut explore Parshat Shoftim and the strange ritual of the eglah arufah—the ceremony performed when a murder goes unsolved. They discuss how Torah refuses to let society shrug off responsibility, insisting that leaders confront tragedy publicly. Drawing on rabbinic debate, they explore two visions of communal accountability: law and order versus meeting basic human needs, raising timeless questions about how justice is pursued and society protects the vulnerable. This week's episode is generously sponsored by Emily Simon, in memory of her very dear friend, Carolyn Mandel, Chana Rafaela bat Avraham v'Sara, who gave so much to her adopted homeland.
In this nuanced and probing conversation with Matan faculty member Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash, we discuss the breadth and limitations of rabbinic authority. This conversation is an outgrowth of the instruction in our parsha not to deviate from the rulings of judges in Devarim 17:10-11, understood by our sages in the midrash halacha as a prooftext for their authority of interpretation. After exploring this drasha, we assess how the preservation of 'human dignity' sometimes overrides rabbinic law. Our Devarim series highlights important rabbinic principles derived from these parshiyot.
Parshat Shoftim: Lamborghinis, Ferraris and magicians!?!
Torah Class - Parshat Shoftim: “Do not destroy”— When is it Allowed?Why is it forbidden to cut down a fruit tree, but permitted to burn clothing?
We have gone on vacation! But while we are off hiking and breathing, we are bringing you several episodes of a wonderful series we put out in 2021 at the start of this Matan podcasting venture. In this second episode of the series, Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble sat down with Dr. Yael Ziegler to discuss how to frame themes and messages surrounding a central character. Moshe, the greatest biblical leader of all time, is used as their test case. We will be back with new content for Parshat Shoftim!
Bittersweet - A Glorious Geulah, but a depressed Jewish People scarred by their sufferings in galus
Parshat Shoftim 5784 by Josh Rosenfeld
Amidst the palpable grief enveloping Israel, Hersh Goldberg-Polin's tragic story of love and loss resonates deeply. As the fight for his release becomes a painful memory, we are left grappling with leadership failures and the high stakes in the battle against terror. Rabbi Dunner reflects on the powerful lessons of courage, accountability, and justice demanded by Parshat Shoftim—and challenges us to seek more from our leaders and ourselves in pursuing true righteousness.
BH Use Hashem for your "Google maps" and the world will seek your "directions"
Rivka Marga Gestetner. Parshat Shoftim 5784 by Mayanot
Parshat Shoftim: The story of the “Slavita” printing press, the Vilna shas and Rav Akiva Eiger Zt”l!!! How was the Rambam Zt”l able to live in Egypt (it's assur)?!? Is Rosh Hashana about Dancing in Uman or fainting in ladies section?!?!
Description: The Rav's Zohar Session on Parshat ShoftimDate: 1992Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Length: 1 hour & 31 minutes Sources: Zohar ShoftimReferences: Torah Portion of ShoftimNotes: Hebrew Year = 5752
On this week's parsha, Parshat Shoftim, we focus on a particular verse that can help us through this challenging week: "Tamim Tihiyeh Im Hashem Elokecha" - that we become wholehearted, blameless, innocent before God. At the funeral of Hersh Goldberg Polin, Sivan explains, we had an opportunity to see this command in action. In their eulogies, Hersh's parents praised God for gifting them their son. They thanked the nation of Israel for supporting them through their battle to bring him home. They asked Hersh to shine his light on them from above. Wondering how to take action in light of tragedy? To help support the families of the hostages? To become innocent before God, and to do so in this holy month of Elul? Tune in to find out. Sivan Rahav-Meir is a leading Israeli journalist, media personality and Torah scholar. You can sign up for her The Daily Portion WhatsApp group, where Sivan sends small insights about Judaism and current affairs. Check out Liel's new book, How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book, available directly from the publisher, or wherever you purchase books. You can find all of Tablet's podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.
Why is it so important to escort guests out after they visit? The weekly Torah portion includes far more depth than what appears in a quick review of its passages. Each week in Beyond the Letter of the Law, Harry Rothenberg, Esq. (Rothenberg Law Firm LLP, https://injurylawyer.com) provides interesting insights and take-away lessons from the Torah portion and the Jewish holidays. Subscribe to enjoy his unique blend of analysis, passion, and humor. A Project Of Ohr.Edu Questions? Comments? We'd Love To Hear From You: Podcasts@Ohr.Edu https://podcasts.ohr.edu/
Rav Ruderman asks why we learn about the Egla Arufa specifically in the middle of the Torah's discussion of war.
What is the significance of the courts and judges being spread out between Jerusalem and all the various individual cities? What are some of the main ideas behind the series of commandments found in this week's parsha in setting up a just society? All this and more in this week's Ponderings on the Parsha!
How does the Torah guide us in creating balanced and just leadership? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Nechama Goldman Barash explore Parshat Shoftim, delving into the Torah’s vision for leadership and governance. They discuss the various models of leadership … Read the rest The post Shoftim 5784: Righteous Leadership first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Shoftim 5784: Righteous Leadership at Elmad Online Learning.
We're so happy for the chance to reload this episode with Matan faculty member, Simi Peters. In this conversation she shares her love for the Netziv (R. Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin) and what he has to say about innovation in the book of Devarim.
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Torah Class - Parshat Shoftim: Do Not Fear? During Israel's War of Attrition, Moshe Dayan exhorted the troops not to be afraid, citing the Torah verse "Do not fear." The Rebbe highlights the end of the verse, which tells us why we should not fear.
BH Are you ready for Moshiach?!