Shana tovah! In the new year, as we start reading Torah from the beginning with Parsha Bereishit, we learn how Hashem created the entire world through speech. In this episode Rebbitzin Shira discusses how we, made in G-d’s image, can also co-create reality through our words, and urges us to fill our speech with Torah and positivity.

Parsha Nitzavim opens with the people of Israel being addressed as ‘standing together today’. Rebbitzin Shira elaborates on how ‘standing together today’ also refers to entering the new year together as a community, which makes us stronger and pleases Hashem. Shana tova!

Rebbitzin Shira encourages us to enter the new year with a goal of bringing our own personal fruits of inspiration into the physical world as a gift to Hashem, much like the mitzvah of the first fruits offering that is introduced in Parsha Ki Tavo.

Parsha Shoftim, which means ‘judges’, opens on the topic of appointing judges at all community gates. In episode 16, Rebbitzin Shira discusses why, as individuals, we are charged with guarding our own personal gates as well; making ourselves a suitable dwelling place for Hashem. The month of Elul is an ideal time to work on connecting with and returning to Hashem as we gear up for the High Holidays.

This week Rebbitzin Shira examines how Parsha Eikev highlights the mitzvah of mezuzah. A mezuzah on our doorpost is a soul-awakening reminder that we are here to serve Hashem with love and joy.

In Episode 13 Rebbitzin Shira teaches that the concept of the ‘cities of refuge’ that is revisited in Parsha Va’etchanan represents our ability to seek safe haven and have our souls revived through learning and living Torah.

Rebbitzin Shira examines how anger can cause even a tzaddik like Moshe to forget himself, forget his duties, and lose access to internal resources, while emphasizing that remembering ‘Hashem is before us always’ can help us control our tempers, stay aligned, and retain access to divine goodness.

Rebbitzin Shira discusses the idea that, much like each portion of eretz Israel is divinely given to each tribe in Parsha Pinchas, our own life circumstances are divinely given to us by Hashem as part of our life purpose.