Welcome to the short, practical Lelamed Weekly Dvar (and Daily Aliyah). I share with you the following two links: 1) Order The Daily Aliyah <https://mosaicapress.com/product/the-daily-aliyah/> and receive your hard copy of these daily practical and relevant Torah thoughts (full and pocket-size versions will eventually be available)!! All proceeds will go to Daily Giving. Speaking of Daily Giving... 2) Join Daily Giving <https://beadailygiver.com/22016>, donate $1/day, and join a community of givers who collectively make a HUGE impact on so many worthy Jewish causes. _______________________________________________ Dvar Torah for Haazinu 4th Aliya The Torah uses the unique word “afeihem” when describing the potential consequences of abandoning G-d’s path, “I said that I would make an end of them (32:26)”. “I will end them,” “I will put them in a corner,” and “I will cast them away as ownerless” are but a few of the possible translations that Rashi offers. Why would the Torah use a vague word that is difficult to translate, particularly when conveying G-d’s reaction to our abandoning Him? Rav S. R. Hirsch frames all three of these translations into one poetic and cohesive idea. Sometimes, ending a downward spiral requires a time out, time away to pause and regain our footing. Being cast away in a corner is not necessarily a punishment; rather, it can be an opportunity for self-reflection. We come to understand yet another meaning when the word “afeihem” can also be broken down into three other words, af-ei-hem, meaning “but-where-are they?” With the proper perspective, events in our lives that we thought were unfortunate can help us find our way. Shlomo Ressler _____________________________________________ Quotation of the week: "Your perspective can be your power or your prison."