Dvar Torah for Bamidbar 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yc7v2e9p Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/bamidbar-6.mp3 God tells Moshe to count every firstborn male and have each one replaced by a Levi in service to God (3:40–41). After instructing Moshe to count the firstborn, Moshe is instructed to “take the number of their names.” Was Moshe instructed to count people or names of people? Rav Hirsch explains that by counting each individual name, they (and we) are

Dvar Torah for Bamidbar 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/4m8cbexc Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/bamidbar-7.mp3 Preparing the Mishkan for transport required covering all the utensils. While most of the items were covered by the tachash (4:8, 10, 12, 14), a beautiful and durable covering, the Aron was covered by both the tachash and then techeiles (a blue woven tapestry) on top of it (4:6). Why was the Aron covered differently, and why did the techeiles speci

Dvar Torah for Naso 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/mr26rc2v Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Naso-1.mp3 Moshe is instructed to “take a census of the sons of Gershon, of them too, following their fathers’ houses, according to their families” (4:22). This instruction raises several questions: (1) why is the family of Gershon counted second, after Kehas, if Gershon was the oldest, (2) why is there an extra phrase “of them too,” and (3) instructions typically en

Dvar Torah for Naso 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/4szf3k2h Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Naso-2.mp3 The Torah tells us that the Leviim who served in the Mishkan were between the ages of thirty and fifty and were “fit to perform the service for the service…” (4:47). What is the meaning behind this seemingly redundant phrase? Rashi explains that it teaches us that song must accompany the service—without song, the service is incomplete. The Torah Temima off

Dvar Torah for Naso 3rd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/vpca6xwr Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Naso-3.mp3 The Torah describes the restitution to be made for any wrongdoing and ends with a general statement: “A man’s holy things shall belong to him; whatever a man gives to the Kohen will be his” (5:10). However, the statement is vague because it doesn’t specify who the “his” is referring to. If it belongs to the Kohen, that seems obvious, and if it belongs to t

Dvar Torah for Naso 4th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/56wsxcpe Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Naso-4.mp3 Among many other topics, Parshas Naso discusses the concept of setting oneself apart from society as a Nazir. The self-imposed restrictions include abstaining from wine, refraining from shaving or cutting hair, and avoiding contact with the dead. The purpose of the Nazir seems to be the pursuit of purity and self-denial - commendable goals for anyone striv

Dvar Torah for Naso 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/5hbtcyxr Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Naso-5.mp3 On the day that the Mishkan is inaugurated, the Nesiim bring individual gifts; six wagons were used to transport twelve oxen, one ox per tribe (7:3). Why does the Torah specify how the oxen were transported with their respective configuration, and why are we told about the wagons before we’re told about the oxen themselves? The Oznayim LaTorah suggests tha

Dvar Torah for Naso 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/bdct84z2 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Naso-6.mp3 The Torah enumerates the gifts that each leader brought, including those that were brought on the seventh day (7:48), which, according to the Oznayim LaTorah, was Shabbos. The rule is that voluntary offerings do not supersede Shabbos, so how was the voluntary offering on the seventh day handled on Shabbos? Oznayim LaTorah maintains that this voluntary cont

Dvar Torah for Naso 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yszzyhcu Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Naso-7.mp3 The Torah describes the tribal leaders’ gifts and totals the weights given (7:84–88). Why do we need the Torah to sum up all that was donated? Sifsei Chachamim suggests that the totals highlight the unity of the people as they made their donations. Each tribe used their own scales to weigh their utensils, and each utensil was weighed precisely as instructe

A personal note: For the next few weeks, those of us in Israel will be following a different Parsha schedule than those outside of Israel. We’ll be keeping pace with the Israel schedule, which means those outside of Israel will receive the Daily Aliyot one week early. Feel free to either scroll back each week or stay on the Israel schedule — whichever you prefer. Thank you for being part of this beautiful community of daily learners 🙏

Dvar Torah for Behaalosecha 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/ykhkb9j4 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/behaaloscha-1.mp3 Parashas Behaalotecha begins with God instructing Aharon to light the Menorah with the candles facing its center (8:2). Rashi explains that Aharon felt dejected because his tribe was not included in the preceding list of tribal offerings. God addressed his disappointment by giving Aharon a task that was more eternal than a one-time offering.

Dvar Torah for Behaalosecha 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yc8f7pre Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/behaaloscha-2.mp3 As the Leviim are initiated to service, the Torah relays to us that “Moshe, Aharon, and the community leaders did for the Leviim, just as GodG-d had commanded Moshe regarding the Leviim, so the people did for them” (8:20). Why does the Torah recount a simple adherence to instructions in such a long way, and why does the pasuk use singular an

Dvar Torah for Behaalosecha 3rd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/5f5w2jsj Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/behaaloscha-3.mp3 On the first anniversary of the Exodus, the children of Israel are instructed to bring the Pesach offering in its appointed time (9:2). In the next pasuk, the Torah instructs, “You shall make it in its appointed time” (9:3). It seems reasonable that stating this law once would be sufficient. Why then would the Torah repeat itself in the very

Dvar Torah for Behaalosecha 4th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/mrtjrdhp Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/behaaloscha-4.mp3 As the Jews wandered the desert, a cloud hovering over the Mishkan would cue when to camp, how long to stay, and when to leave (9:17). The Torah spends seven pesukim describing how they followed the cloud prompts, which begs the question of why the need to be so verbose. The Lekach Tov suggests that humans are naturally curious beings that t

Dvar Torah for Behaalosecha 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/42hatumv Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/behaaloscha-5.mp3 After nearly a full year at Mount Sinai, the cloud lifted from the Mishkan, signaling the Jews’ departure, and traveled three days ahead of them to identify their next resting place (10:33). Almost immediately, the people began complaining about the journey and everything else that displeased them. What caused this sudden shift into disconte

Dvar Torah for Behaalosecha 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/528byz99 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/behaaloscha-6.mp3 As the people continued to receive the miraculous manna, they complained and begged for meat, reminiscing about “the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge…” (11:5). The Talmud clarifies that “free” did not mean without cost, but rather without the mitzvos connected to it. What, then, were the people truly protesting? Rabbi Mordechai Kamen

Dvar Torah for Behaalosecha 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/5t3ttjb4 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/behaaloscha-7.mp3 Parashas Behaalosecha details several complaints by the Jews, and the repercussions of those complaints, including God’s will to fly in quails and introduce prophets. The Torah then records the following details: (1) Miriam speaks negatively about Moshe, (2) Moshe was exceedingly humble, more so than any person on the face of the earth (12:3

Dvar Torah for Shelach 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/ycxxkazh Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shelach-1.mp3 The story of the spies speaking negatively about the land of Israel (13:1–14:25) comes immediately after Miriam is punished for speaking negatively about her brother Moshe (12:1–16). The Midrash explains that the spies were meant to learn from Miriam’s mistake. But if lashon hara is already objectively wrong, why was there a need to draw the connecti

Dvar Torah for Shelach 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/msvyhjxh Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shelach-2.mp3 While the stage was set for the Nesiim to bring the Jews into the Promised Land, Parashas Shelach describes the tragic negative report that condemned the Jews to the desert for forty years until the next generation was ready to claim their Promised Land. As the Lubavitcher Rebbe asked: roughly a year after the miracles in Egypt, the splitting of the

Dvar Torah for Shelach 3rd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/3y78z4bh Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shelach-3.mp3 As Calev and Yehoshua try to convince the people to trust God that His land is perfect for them, they claim that the people of that land “are our bread” (14:9). Aside from its not being accurate, How would that argument be used to reassure the people that God is on their side and that they will prevail? God’s ultimate goal for us is our acceptance of

Dvar Torah for Shelach 4th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/bdez9zuc Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shelach-4.mp3 After the spies’ negative report about Israel, a plague kills them, except for Calev and Yehoshua who “remained alive” (14:38). Why does the Torah need to specify that Calev and Yehoshua remained alive when it had already been made clear earlier in the parashah? The Gemara explains that Calev and Yehoshua received the reward initially designated for

Dvar Torah for Shelach 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yn2ut2kt Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shelach-5.mp3 The Torah describes the supplements that are now to be brought with the sacrifices, including Minchah (meal offerings) and Nesech (wine). Commentaries explain that this is to atone for the spies’ unfavorable report. The Torah then qualifies that this rule applies to native Jews (15:13) and then contradicts that by including converts three times (15:1

Dvar Torah for Shelach 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/a5recf77 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shelach-6.mp3 The Torah describes the supplements that are now to be brought with the sacrifices, including Minchah (meal The Torah describes the mitzvah of challah, the act of separating a piece of kneaded dough and donating it to the priest (15:17–21), distinct from the commandment to donate grain (Terumah). Why is this dough double-taxed (taxed first as grain a

Dvar Torah for Shelach 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/45djz5wj Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/shelach-7.mp3 Parashas Shelach ends with the commandment to wear tzitzis on all four-cornered garments as to remind us of the six hundred and thirteen mitzvos (15:39). Rabbi Yochanan Zweig wonders how this mitzvah serves as a reminder to perform others if the mitzvah is entirely avoidable by not wearing four-cornered clothing in the first place. Rashi explains tha

Dvar Torah for Korach 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/2x2x3fsp Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/korach-1.mp3 Parashas Korach begins by describing Korach and two hundred and fifty people’s claims for more authority and power. The very first word used is “And he took” (16:1), yet the Torah never explicitly mentions what it is that Korach actually took. Two questions can be asked: Why start with a verb that’s never followed by its object, and how is being swallo

Dvar Torah for Korach 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yztyw7aa Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/korach-2.mp3 Dasan and Aviram irrationally claimed that God took the people out of a land flowing with milk and honey to murder them in the desert (16:13). To make matters worse, they then insist that God has not brought us to His land nor given the land as an inheritance (16:14). How could they make such outrageous claims and shamelessly think that they are correc

Dvar Torah for Korach 3rd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yttu4jk8 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/korach-3.mp3 After Korach, Dasan, and Aviram challenge Moshe and Aharon on their authority, Moshe is unsuccessful in his attempt to discuss their grievances with him (16:12). God then instructs Moshe to advise the congregation to withdraw from the rebels (16:24). The elders of Israel follow Moshe as he walks to Dasan and Aviram and urges everyone to distance themse

Dvar Torah for Korach 4th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/bdp38y2h Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/korach-4.mp3 In this week’s parashah, Korach and his horde argue for more power, expose themselves as selfish and evil, and are subsequently punished. When the Jewish people complain about the recent deaths the next day, God asks Moshe and Aharon to step aside from the congregation as He kills the people and sends a plague to complete His will (17:10). Not only did

Dvar Torah for Korach 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/2npeyyuz Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/korach-5.mp3 To demonstrate that Aharon was God’s choice for Kohen Gadol, God instructs Moshe to place twelve staffs inside the Kodesh Hakodashim, each inscribed with the name of the tribe chieftain. The next day Aharon’s staff grows almond blossoms and almonds (17:23). While commentaries explain that almonds grow quickly and thus are the fruit of choice for this D

Dvar Torah for Korach 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/43fjmzu7 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/korach-6.mp3 After Aharon’s staff blossoms as a divine sign of his chosen role, God instructs Moshe to place it in the Kodesh HaKodashim—the holiest, most hidden place. But if the staff is meant as a reminder to the people, why hide it from their eyes? The Netziv teaches: this reminder is not for them - it’s for God. Not because He forgets, but to symbolize that ev

Dvar Torah for Korach 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/bdd9e592 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/korach-7.mp3 The Torah teaches that the tribe of Levi did not receive a portion of the land, but instead was supported by tithes from the people (18:21). Immediately after, the Torah shifts focus, stating, “the Levi shall perform the service…” (18:23). Why, after addressing the tribe collectively, does the Torah speak to the individual? The Oznayim LaTorah explains

Dvar Torah for Chukas 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/u7fdaavx Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chukas-1.mp3 When introducing the laws of the Parah Adumah (red heifer), which purifies those who are contaminated, the Torah uses the phrase, “This is the state of the Torah…” (19:2). At first glance, it might seem more logical to introduce these laws more specifically as pertaining to the Parah Adumah. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein explains that this broader language is

Dvar Torah for Chukas 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yc3zb9zu Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chukas-2.mp3 Parashas Chukas describes the Jews complaining about a lack of water as they arrived at a place named Kadesh (20:1–14). Between the people’s arrival and complaining, we are briefly told that Miriam dies and is buried in Kadesh (20:1). The pasuk immediately following Miriam’s death starts with, “And the congregation had no water…” which makes it seem th

Dvar Torah for Chukas 3rd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yv4nena9 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chukas-3.mp3 In response to the Jews’ complaints about the lack of water, God instructed Moshe to speak to the rock so that water would come forth, but Moshe famously hit the rock instead. Moshe’s punishment for “not having faith to sanctify God…” was that he would not be allowed to enter the land of Israel (20:12). However, the very next pasuk seems to contradict

Dvar Torah for Chukas 4th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/bdf38t5n Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chukas-4.mp3 As Moshe tries to negotiate passage through the land of Edom, he proposes that the people pass through Edom without going through fields or vineyards and without drinking from “the well” (20:17). Rashi wonders why Moshe expressed not to drink from a single well when presumably Edom had many. While most commentaries explain this statement to mean that t

Dvar Torah for Chukas 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/5erxvp7c Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chukas-5.mp3 The Jews complain about their food, claiming to be disgusted by the manna that they have been receiving. In response, God sends snakes to attack them, followed by Moshe’s prayers on their behalf, and instructions to gaze upon a copper snake (nachash nechoshes) to heal them from the snake bites (21:9). Why would looking at a snake be the cure for being

Dvar Torah for Chukas 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/37uhkned Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chukas-6.mp3 The Torah lists the locations where the Jews journeyed and abruptly stops to tell us that the Jews sang a song about a well (21:17). What prompted the interruption, and what lesson can we derive from it? Rashi explains that as the Jews passed through a deep gorge in Moav, the Amorites planned to ambush them from above. A miracle occurred, and the oppos

Dvar Torah for Chukas 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yjdstjrw Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/chukas-7.mp3 As the Jewish nation makes its way to their promised land, Moshe sends spies to Yahzer, an act that undoubtedly brings back memories of the last time spies were sent forth. These spies also went off-script by capturing the town they were sent to spy on (21:32). How are their actions justified if they didn’t do exactly what was asked of them? The Midras

Dvar Torah for Balak 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/bdz9kuda Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/balak-1.mp3 The Torah relates the story of Balak, the king of Moav, who sees the Jews conquering his neighbors and tries to get Bilam to curse them before his nation is invaded and falls victim. However, the first mention of Balak does not specify his job (22:2), and in the following pesukim, the people share their fears with the elders rather than with their King B

Dvar Torah for Balak 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/35scekh4 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/balak-2.mp3 When Balak beckons Bilam to come to curse the Jews, God appears to Bilam and instructs him not to go and not to curse the people. When Balak is notified, he sends higher-ranking delegates with the same request, and Bilam responds, “Even if Balak gives me a house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great that would transgress the wor

Dvar Torah for Balak 3rd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/4rstu6ry Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/balak-3.mp3 When Bilam is commissioned to curse the Jewish people, he gets up the next morning to saddle his donkey and begins his task. Rashi points out that Bilam wakes up early to convey his commitment and enthusiasm for his mission, specifically noting the parallel with Avraham’s journey to sacrifice his son Yitzchak many years prior. Why is it relevant that Bil

Dvar Torah for Balak 4th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/mvzyevjb Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/balak-4.mp3 Among the several attempts by Bilam to curse the Jews, he distinctively commented, “I see them as mountain peaks, and I behold them as hills; it is a singular nation that will not be counted among the nations” (23:9). In what way are we different from other nations? Rav Elchanan Wasserman explains that there is a difference between a nation (goy) and a p

Dvar Torah for Balak 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/vf36872p Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/balak-5.mp3 Balak moves Bilam to another location, where not all the Jews are visible, in order to attempt to curse them (23:13). Why would Balak suggest going to an obscure location if seeing whom you are cursing is seemingly essential? Be’er Mayim Chaim suggests that Balak’s tactic was to target just some Jews rather than the Jewish people collectively. Balak hope

Dvar Torah for Balak 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/5xh3ymsk Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/balak-6.mp3 When Balak’s first attempt to have Bilam curse the Jews failed, he suggested trying again from a different location (23:13). When that failed as well, he suggested moving to yet another location (23:27). Why would he think that moving locations would help? Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman explains that Balak arrogantly thought that the curses depended on his or Bil

Dvar Torah for Balak 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/msr8akxd Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/balak-7.mp3 Bilam ends up blessing the people, to the dismay of Balak. As a parting gift, Bilam offers Balak some advice on how to defeat the Jewish people, suggesting that Balak entice them with improper relationships with Midianite women (24:14, 31:16). In the very next perek, we see that his plan immediately works, causing the death of 24,000 people (25:1–9). How

Dvar Torah for Pinchas 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/bdds8t67 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pinchas-1.mp3 After a Jewish prince and a Midianite woman act immorally and are killed, God commands the Jewish people to “distress and defeat” the Midianites, “for they distress you with their plots” (25:17–18). What makes the Midianite threat distinct, and how does God’s response address it? The Ohr HaChaim explains that the Midianites posed a danger not only to

Dvar Torah for Pinchas 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/msuwu7my Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pinchas-2.mp3 Nestled within the latest census is an obscure mention: “And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serach” (26:46). Rashi points out that she was one of the original seventy people who entered Egypt, and she is mentioned here because she survived the 210 years in Egypt as well as the 40 years in the desert. While surviving all those years is certainly rem

Dvar Torah for Pinchas 3rd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/3sd86hch Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pinchas-3.mp3 God instructs Moshe to divide the land among the tribes “…by lottery shall the land be divided, according to the names of their fathers’ tribes they shall inherit” (26:55). If the tribes are to inherit the land, why does the Torah add the extra word “names” to make it sound like the names are inheriting the land, rather than the people? Rav Hirsch ex

Dvar Torah for Pinchas 4th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/3ubbmb79 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pinchas-4.mp3 When Moshe is told that he will soon pass away, his first concern is to solicit God to appoint someone to take over as leader of the people (27:16). Moshe asks for someone who will “lead the Jewish people out and bring them in so that God’s congregation not be like sheep without their shepherd” (27:17). Why use the possessive “their”; why not say “li

Dvar Torah for Pinchas 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/y6usamsk Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/pinchas-5.mp3 The Torah details the offerings, beginning with the daily sacrifices (28:1–8) and continuing with the Shabbos and special occasion offerings (28:9–15). Nestled in the instructions for the daily offering is the phrase that “the continual offering will be done as Har Sinai, as a smell of satisfaction, a fire to God” (28:6). Considering that the daily o

Dvar Torah for Eikev 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/4enpma66 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/eikev-5.mp3 In Parashas Eikev, Moshe reiterates God’s promises and warnings, contingent upon His people fulfilling what is required and expected of them. Moshe declares, “God, your God, is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God,” and, in the very next pasuk, states, “He executes justice for the orphan and widow and loves the stranger,

Dvar Torah for Eikev 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/m69su2ev Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/eikev-6.mp3 Last week’s parashah included the first paragraph of Shema, instructing us to teach our children Torah. This week’s parashah seems to echo the same theme in the second paragraph of the Shema. Last week the Torah told us: “Teach your children, and speak the Torah while you sit at home, walk on the way, go to sleep and wake up” (6:7). This week’s instructi

Dvar Torah for Eikev 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/2p8xwpva Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/eikev-7.mp3 Moshe implores us to keep God’s commandments, do them, love God, walk in all His ways, and cleave to Him (11:22). What is the practical difference between these various modes of service? Rashi explains that walking in God’s ways means that when He is merciful, we are too, and when He is kind, so are we. Lekach Tov expounds on that thought and suggests th

Dvar Torah for Re'eh 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/4nu2zwsf Audio: https://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/reeh-1.mp3 Moshe sets before the people a blessing and a curse with regard to keeping the commandments and states, “The blessing that you will heed the commandments” (11:27). Would it not be more appropriate to use the conditional “If you heed the commandments,” since both the blessing and the curse are presented as possible outcomes? Rav Hirsch suggests that obser

Dvar Torah for Re'eh 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/4twh37fd Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/reeh-2.mp3 Moshe informs the people of the new laws that will be initiated once they enter Israel, including the requirement that only holy offerings be brought to the Beis Hamikdash (Temple) in Yerushalayim. However, the pasuk does not specify that the Mikdash will be in Yerushalayim; instead, it says “To the place that God will choose” (12:26). Why is Yerushalayim

Dvar Torah for Re'eh 3rd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/fsjjd5pp Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/reeh-3.mp3 Moshe warns the people that if an entire city turns to idolatry, it must be completely destroyed—its inhabitants killed, and the city never rebuilt (thankfully, this never occurred). The next verse then says that God will grant us compassion and be compassionate with us (13:18). At first glance, this reassurance seems late in coming—why speak of compassio

Dvar Torah for Re'eh 4th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/2s49rn5p Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/reeh-4.mp3 Parashas Re’eh lists the kosher and non-kosher animals and specifies the features that make animals kosher—that they chew their cud and have split hooves, the absence of which makes them non-kosher (14:6). The Torah lists several non-kosher animals that have one of the two requirements but lack the second. Rabbi Yissocher Frand asks why the Torah indicate

Dvar Torah for Re'eh 5th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/yc57befd Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/reeh-5.mp3 We are told each year to ma’aser (tithe) all our crops and earnings (14:22). The pasuk uses a double expression—asser t’asser—literally “tithe to tithe,” which many commentaries interpret as “tithe in order to become wealthy.” The K’sav Sofer asks how the second t’asser can be understood to mean wealth, when the Hebrew word for wealth is t’asher. He answe

Dvar Torah for Re'eh 6th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/3dackr3v Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/reeh-6.mp3 Parashas Re’eh includes the precepts of tithing and giving charity to those in need. The pasuk tells us that the result of helping those less fortunate is that we will be blessed (15:10). The Lekach Tov asks: Does it not make more sense to reserve the blessings for those less fortunate so that they would not need the help of others? The Lekach Tov answers

Dvar Torah for Re'eh 7th Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/8vxnbxj4 Audio: http://dailyaliyah.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/reeh-7-modified-.mp3 The parashah concludes with a recap of the major festivals (Pesach, Shavuos, Sukkos) and the pronouncement, “Every man as much as his hand can give based on what they have been given” (16:17). The K’sav Sofer wonders why the word “hand” is included in this proclamation. The K’sav Sofer suggests that exercising the act of physically giving with o