Video content by Uri Pilichowski
The Sedra Shoftim
This week we find ourselves in Parshat Shoftim. While we have merit to live in our land, we must recognize that exile is not just a geographical location, it is a state of being. We have lost so much, and one of the most vital components missing today is the clarity of judgment and divine advice. Our portion begins with the command to appoint judges and officers, ensuring a justice system that governs with true righteousness. The Torah describes a situation where a matter is too baffling for the people to decide. Ibn Ezra explains that baffling means hidden. In [...]
The Sedra Maasei 5782
This week we find ourselves in Parshat Maasei. The Torah is often viewed as a book of laws, yet it begins with stories of creation and the patriarchs. This week, we open with what seems to be a dry, repetitive list of forty-two stops the Jewish people made in the desert. While it may appear superfluous at first glance, the Rambam teaches us in his Guide for the Perplexed that these details are essential. Miracles are easily believed by those who witness them, but future generations may grow skeptical. By documenting every specific location in this desolate wilderness, the Torah [...]
The Sedra Vayechi 5782
This video explores the profound lessons found in Sedra Vayechi, specifically focusing on how to maintain a positive mindset. Despite popular beliefs about superstition, the speaker argues that Judaism emphasizes rational thought and personal responsibility. The core topic is the 'evil eye'—not as a magical curse, but as a negative, pessimistic attitude that destroys potential. Just as Yaakov blessed his grandsons to rise above negativity and think of their future success, the video encourages viewers to adopt this mindset today. By shifting focus from what is wrong with the world to what can be done right, individuals and nations can [...]
The Sedra VAYETZIE 5782
This video explores profound questions regarding ownership, possessions, and familial bonds through the lens of the Torah portion Vayetzei. Using a lesson from the Talmud, the video analyzes the conflict between Yaakov and his father-in-law, Lavan. Lavan mistakenly believed he permanently owned his family and wealth, while Yaakov demonstrated that possessions are transferable and people are not property. This lesson emphasizes recognizing God's role in our ownership and the importance of emotional and physical independence in our own lives, urging viewers to ensure they are not being held back by others as they progress and define their own personal property. [...]
The Sedra Vayelech 5782
As we approach the end of the year and prepare for the transition into Rosh Hashanah, we find ourselves at Parshat Vayelech. This is the shortest parsha in the Torah, yet it carries some of the most profound messages about leadership and the future of the Jewish people. We see Moshe Rabbeinu at one hundred and twenty years old, preparing to hand the mantle to Yehoshua. He gives us the final mitzvot, including the beautiful commandment of Hakhel and the writing of the Torah as a song. In this video, I want to explore what it means to move forward [...]
The Sedra Ki Tavoh 5781
This week we find ourselves in Parshat Ki Tavoh. Many people today use the term off the derek to describe someone who has left the path of Torah, but we must ask ourselves: what is this path? In the Book of Devarim, we are repeatedly warned not to deviate to the right or to the left. As we delve into the verses, we discover that there are actually two distinct paths discussed. The first is the path of monotheism, which represents our absolute commitment to serving God alone and rejecting all forms of idolatry. The second is the path of [...]
