Torah Books

The Book of Devarim is the greatest of the five Books, because it enables us to bring the first four into the physical world.

Introduction In many Jewish communities, the very mention of Shabbos Chazon calls forth somber thoughts. Communal mourning practices associated with the Nine Days are followed in some places even though it is Shabbos, and the Haftarah – from which this Sh...

Introduction Reb Gershon Ber of Pahr was a profound scholar of Chassidus, but sparing in words. Even so, he would translate everything into Yiddish when davening. He once asked Reb Peretz Chein, the rav of Nevl, if it was permissible to translate the word...

Introduction It was a time of transition. Moshe had led the Jewish people for 40 years, taking them from slavery in Egypt to Mount Sinai, and then through the desert until the banks of the Jordan River where they were now located, preparing to enter Eretz...

Likkutei Sichos, Vol. IX, p. 24ff. I. Every year, we read Parshas Devarim on Shabbos Chazon, the Shabbos which precedes Tishah BeAv. From this, we can appreciateSee the Shaloh, Cheilek Torah Shebichsav, Parshas Vayeishev (quoted in Likkutei Sichos, Vol. V...

The Sidra of Devarim is always read on the Shabbat before the 9th of Av, the date on which both Temples fell. These tragedies are reflected in the choice of Haftorah for the surrounding weeks, those before the 9th of Av expressing prophecies of rebuke for...

Why Hashem wants us to access Infinity through a finite world experience. (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 19 Devarim)

When appointing judges over the people of Israel, Moses confesses that the one quality he did not find in any of them was 'understanding'. But elsewhere the Torah relates that 'men of understanding' helped fashion the Sanctuary and its vessels? In resolvi...

In the fortieth year, on the first day of the month of Shevat, Moses began translating the Torah into the various languages of his time. What is the significance of Moses' translation? Is translating the Torah always a good thing, or can it also have nega...

The Torah portion of Devarim is always read on the Shabbos preceding the fast of the Ninth of Av, which commemorates the destruction of the first and second Holy Temples. This Shabbos is also known as Shabbos Chazon, the “Shabbos of Vision.” The illustrio...