Thursday, May 22, 2025

Fwd: Torat Imecha Haftorah - Behar-Bechukotai


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From: The OU Women's Initiative <ouwomen@ounetwork.org>
Date: Thu, May 22, 2025, 7:01 AM
Subject: Torat Imecha Haftorah - Behar-Bechukotai
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>



Torat Imecha Haftorah

Torat Imecha Haftorah for Sefer Vayikra is dedicated by the family of Rabbi Dr. Israel Rivkin z"l, ישרא–ל בן רפא–ל זאב ז׳׳ל, as an aliyah for his neshama


Mrs. Sara Malka Winter

 

Haftorah Behar-Bechukotai

Mrs. Sara Malka Winter

Listen Now

Mrs. Sara Malka Winter holds a Master of Science degree in education and is a sought-after speaker in her community of Silver Spring, Maryland. As a teenager, Mrs. Winter founded Ashreinu, a Canadian kiruv organization dedicated to Jewish outreach to the Russian immigrant community, which has influenced hundreds of girls. Mrs. Winter lived in Israel for eight years with her family, where she taught and lectured across Jerusalem in seminaries, outreach centers, and high schools. In 2008, Mrs. Winter moved to Maryland to help found the Greater Washington Community Kollel, together with her husband, Rabbi Menachem Winter. She continues to lecture throughout the Washington, DC area as a Senior Lecturer for the Kollel on diverse topics, including Tefillah, Chumash, Nach, Tehillim, Chagim, and Mitzvos. Mrs. Winter is also a beloved teacher at the Yeshiva of Greater Washington Girls Division. At the OU Women's Initiative, Sara Malka taught Sefer Tehillim 53-62 and 120-134 to over 5,000 women worldwide as part of the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi program.


Dvar Haftorah

OU Women's Initiative 

Founding Director

Rebbetzin Dr.

Adina Shmidman

Rebbetzin Dr. Shmidman

Held on All Sides

Parshiot Behar and Bechukotai 

In the opening posuk of our Haftorah, Yirmiyahu offers a three-part description of the unique layers of Divine support: עֻזִּי וּמָעֻזִּי וּמְנוּסִי בְּיוֹם צָרָה, My strength, my stronghold, and my refuge on the day of distress. The Radak explains that these terms are not synonyms, but rather describe three distinct modes of reliance on Hashem.

 

עֻזִּי – My strength: This refers to internal fortitude. Even before external challenges arise, it is Hashem who gives us the resilience to stand tall, the clarity to move forward, and the emotional and spiritual might to endure. The Malbim notes that this is the strength that resides within us — a kind of spiritual empowerment.

 

וּמָעֻזִּי – My stronghold: A fortress is not inside us — it surrounds us. It is the structure that protects us when the storm hits. According to the Metzudat David, this term represents Hashem as our external protection, the One who shields us when threats encroach. It's a relationship that is both personal and communal, as the fortress can house many, not just one individual.

 

וּמְנוּסִי – My refuge: This final term represents escape. The Abarbanel emphasizes that when there is nowhere else to go, when human strategies fail, Hashem is the ultimate place of flight. He is not only our shield in times of danger, but the protective refuge we seek when our strength gives way.

 

Together, these three images form a framework of our trust. Hashem is with us in every layer of the struggle: strengthening us, shielding us, and sheltering us. Hashem is not only our inner strength, nor only our outer protection, nor only our last refuge — He is all three, always present, in every layer of our struggle.

 

In our world today, particularly in the aftermath of October 7 and the continuing pain and uncertainty, we connect deeply with the words of Yirmiyahu. We draw strength from the deep reservoirs of our emunah (עֻזִּי), we are held up by the unity and protections we build around ourselves (מָעֻזִּי), and when we feel we can run no more, we fall into the embrace of Hashem, our last and lasting refuge (מְנוּסִי).



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