| This week's Torat Imecha programming
has been generously sponsored: L'ilui nishmat our cherished mother Edith Goldner Steinlauf, Rechel bat Yirmiyahu, a resilient Holocaust survivor who rebuilt a beautiful life and family with emunah, bitachon and inner strength. A cultured, elegant and modest woman beloved by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a role model for all of us. Dedicated by Arlene and Arthur Eis and Michelle and Dov Schwartz and families. | | | Torat Imecha Haftorah is dedicated as a zechus that all those waiting should find their zivug hagun soon and with ease. | | | | | Haftorah Vayeishev Mrs. Michal Horowitz | | | | | | | | |
| Mrs. Michal Horowitz delivers weekly shiurim in her community of the Five Towns, NY, while her Zoom shiurim reach audiences around the world. She has been a scholar in residence in schools and communities, nationally and internationally. In September 2023, Michal was a keynote speaker at Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis' Pre-Yamim Noraim Conference, for the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. At the OU Women's Initiative, she inaugurated the Torat Imecha Parsha program presenting weekly shiurim on Sefer Bereishit. Michal taught Yehoshua, Tehillim 36-41, and Divrei Hayamim II to over 5,000 women across the globe as part of the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi cycle I. She taught Tehillim 1-41, and Mishlei for cycle II. She taught Shoftim for cycle III. Michal presented Rosh Chodesh, Selichot Night and Nach Yomi Siyum shiurim and taught in-depth courses at the ALIT Virtual Summer Learning Programs of 2020, '21, '22, '23, and '24. Michal's weekly OU Parsha shiur can be found on the AllParsha App. She has thousands of audio and video shiurim online. Her writings have been published in YU's Torah-To-Go, HaMizrachi, the OU's Jewish Action magazine, and most recently in "Reclaiming Dignity: A Guide to Tzniut". Her story can be found on all major streaming platforms on the "Rolling With the Punches" Podcast, Episode 14, Sounds of Silence. Michal lives in Woodmere, NY with her husband and family. | | | Dvar Haftorah OU Women's Initiative Founding Director Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman | | | | | | Listening Between the Questions Amos 2:6-3:8 | | | Why does Amos choose to speak not in answers, but in questions? In this week's Haftorah (Amos 3), the Navi doesn't open with accusation or warning. Instead, he presents a cascade of rhetorical questions — each one too obvious to answer, yet impossible to ignore. If two people are walking together, isn't it because they agreed to meet? Does a lion roar when there is no prey? Does a young lion cry out before a successful catch? Does a bird fall into a trap without bait? Does a trap spring up for no reason? When the shofar sounds in a city — can anyone remain calm? Every question points to the same truth: effects have causes; reality isn't random. A roar means prey. A shaking net means something is caught. A shofar blast means alarm. So too, when the Jewish people experience suffering, it is not arbitrary. There is meaning. There is a message. "Could evil come to a city and Hashem not be behind it?" (3:6) Yet these images are not only about consequences — they are warnings. A roar alerts us to move. A rattling trap signals us to be careful. A shofar awakens us to pay attention. Amos teaches that Hashem never acts without first calling out to us. He sends prophets before punishment; signals before consequences; wake-up calls before change. He asks the final question that transforms the listener into a participant:אַרְיֵ֥ה שָׁאָ֖ג מִ֣י לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א אֲדֹ-י ה֙ דִּבֶּ֔ר מִ֖י לֹ֥א יִנָּבֵֽא׃ A lion has roared, who can but fear? My Sovereign G-d has spoken, who can but prophesy? If Hashem's voice is in the moment, how can one remain silent? If the world is shaking, how can we remain unmoved? Amos turns the questions toward us. Hashem's rhetorical questions are meant to awaken our questions. What are the rumblings in our lives? What shofar blasts are demanding our attention? Which disruptions are not accidents, but invitations? Perhaps that is the deeper message of this chapter: G-d's questions prompt us to question ourselves. Instead of asking, "Why is this happening?" we might ask, "What is Hashem asking of me through this?" This Haftorah reminds us that Hashem's voice is not only in comfort. Sometimes His love arrives as a roar — not to terrify, but to awaken; not to condemn, but to guide us home. | | | As part of your weekly learning, join Torat Imecha Parsha with Mrs. Chana Meira Katz. Register below to receive weekly recordings. | | | Your tax-deductible gift, made before year-end, will be receipted for 2025. | | | |
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