WELCOMING SHABBAT

Shabbat is more than a day of refraining from worldly activity.

When experienced to its spiritual fullest, its holiness enlightens all other days of the week.

We invite you to enhance your Shabbat with these words of Torah.

 

PARASHAT NASSO: Torah as Lifeblood- From Unity to Individual Mission

PARASHAT NASSO: Torah as Lifeblood- From Unity to Individual Mission

Breitowitz, Rabbi Yitzchak
June 5, 2025

This shiur focuses on how Torah and mitzvot are the path to connect with Hashem and live according to His will. Rabbi Breitowitz explains that accepting the Torah is not a one-time act but something to renew daily, with joy and commitment. The shiur emphasizes that Torah is not just a guide—it is the essence of our bond with Hashem.

Accepting the Torah (Kabbalat HaTorah) is something we must do every day, not just on Shavuot. Like King David wanting to feel like a visitor in Hashem’s house, we must keep the excitement alive. Saying naaseh v’nishma—doing before understanding—shows full trust in Hashem. This order teaches that Torah has value in itself, beyond practical use.

If Torah is treated only as instruction, it loses its power to elevate. But when learned with kavod, it connects us directly to Hashem. Torah protects and transforms us only when we approach it with the right attitude. Learning even the laws we don’t practice still brings spiritual light.

Mitzvot we can’t fulfill ourselves can still connect us to Hashem—through learning or through unity with others who do them. Every Jew has a unique mission. Our goal is not to be the same but to serve Hashem with our own strengths. Torah study and love for others build true unity. The diversity of Jewish customs is not a problem—it’s part of Hashem’s plan.

NOTE: The above is a summary based on the original teaching.