Rav Shlomo Katz on the Parsha

Nitzavim: But My Love For You Will Not End

What does it mean to enter into a bris with Hashem? On the final Shabbos of the year, Parshas Nitzavim gives us the hachana for Rosh Hashanah: אתם נצבים היום כולכם. Stan

Nitzavim: Which Mitzvah Is Closest To Me?

"It is not in Heaven... it is very close to you." What specific Mitzvah is the Torah referring to? Rav Shlomo Katz explores the classic debate between Rashi (who says i

Nitzavim: Did I Take Advantage Of The Past Year?

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, are we standing firm or are we being blown over by every passing wind? Rav Shlomo Katz explores the power of Atem Nitzavim—standing like a

Ki Tavo: Is Sadness An Aveira?

Why do bad things happen? The Torah gives a frighteningly simple answer: "Because you did not serve Hashem with joy." Rav Shlomo Katz delves into this difficult concept

Ki Teitze: From the Moment You Leave the Womb, IT'S A WAR

Is life supposed to be easy, or were we born for battle? In this empowering session, Rav Shlomo Katz reframes our existence based on the Heichal HaBracha (Komarna Rebbe

Ki Teitze: Who Can Go Out To Fight?

What is the difference between an external battle and an internal struggle?  In this profound session, Rav Shlomo Katz explores the opening verse: "When you go out to wa

Va'etchanan: Pleading Your Case With Confidence

Does an unanswered prayer mean God didn't hear you? In this deeply comforting session, Rav Shlomo Katz opens the writings of the Piaseczna Rebbe (Eish Kodesh) to unders

Kedoshim: Certain Things Can Only Be Internalized Together

Why does the Torah command us to be holy, specifically when the entire congregation is gathered together? In this powerful session, Rav Shlomo Katz opens the Mei HaShil

Kedoshim: Am I a Loving Person?

Is it really possible to love everyone? In this deep and challenging session, Rav Shlomo Katz explores the radical philosophy of Rav Kook regarding love and Teshuva (Re

Kedoshim: Living The Important Moments

We often think of "Holiness" as a trait reserved for the extraordinary few — people with long beards or spiritual superpowers. But in this liberating session, Rav Shlomo

Devarim: The Torah We Do Learn On Tisha B'Av

If we are forbidden to learn Torah on Tisha B'Av, how do we survive the day? Rav Shlomo Katz shares a spine-chilling story about Alexander Chassidim in Auschwitz to exp

Devarim: Until the Torah Gets into My Toenails

What is the difference between a genius and a lover? In this deep dive into the purpose of the Exile, Rav Shlomo Katz shares a classic Reb Shlomo Carlebach story about

Devarim: What is Your Chazon on this Shabbos Tisha B'Av?

What do we actually "see" on Shabbat Chazon (The Sabbath of Vision)? Rav Shlomo Katz explores the famous teaching of the Berditchever Rebbe (Kedushat Levi) that on this

Devarim & Tisha B'Av: Looking for a Leader Who Knows How to Rebuke Me

Is it possible to tell someone they are wrong without destroying them? In this crucial pre-Tisha B'Av session, Rav Shlomo Katz contrasts destructive criticism with the

Devarim: Why Doesn't Anyone Get Me?

We all yearn for a friend who "gets us" without us having to spell it out. In this heartbreaking and intimate look at Moshe Rabbeinu's final days, Rav Shlomo Katz explo

Devarim: When Tisha B'av Sinks In

Why did it take 40 years to make an 11-day journey? In this foundational session, Rav Shlomo Katz explores the painful but necessary distance between the mind and the b

Matot/Masei: Doing A Favor For Moshe Rabbeinu

Why did the Half-Tribe of Menashe stay on the other side of the Jordan? In this insightful session, Rav Shlomo Katz solves the mystery of the "planted" tribe using the

Matot/Masei: Asking G-d To Not Let Me Let Go Of My Sins

Are you "Walking" or are you "Moving"? In this profound session on the 42 Journeys, Rav Shlomo Katz shares a life-changing insight from the Rizhiner Rebbe. We learn tha

Matot/Masei: Does Anyone Do Anything Holy Anymore Without Documenting It?

In the age of social media, is it possible to do a Mitzvah without an audience? Rav Shlomo Katz explores the spiritual war against Midian through the lens of the Degel

Matot/Masei: Two Ways To 'Kasher' Our Souls

When we find negative traits within ourselves, should we destroy them or elevate them? In this deep philosophical deep dive, Rav Shlomo Katz contrasts the "Instant Gene