No community start suggestion yet.
What does it mean that we are commanded to see God's "face" (re'os ponai) at the Beis Hamikdash, and why does the Rosh Hashanah liturgy reference Matan Torah (תורה)? The shiur develops the concept that "panim el panim" means direct, personal interaction—not just performing mitzvos but experiencing a dynamic relationship. Rosh Hashanah creates that same face-to-face intimacy without needing to travel to Yerushalayim; Hashem (ה׳) comes to us ("Hashem ori"), transforming judgment into closeness.
The shiur opens with a striking question: why does the Musaf of Rosh Hashanah contain an extensive passage describing Matan Torah (תורה)—God's revelation at Har Sinai in clouds and thunder? That passage seems far more appropriate for Shavuos, the anniversary of the giving of the Torah, yet it appears in the Rosh Hashanah liturgy. This anomaly points to a deep connection between Rosh Hashanah and the experience of Sinai. Rabbi Zweig raises a series of related questions. Why is there no obligation of aliyah l'regel (pilgrimage to Yerushalayim) on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when logically these days—centered entirely on the avodah in the Beis Hamikdash—should demand our presence there more than Pesach (פסח), Shavuos, and Sukkos (סוכות)? What is the purpose of Hakhel, the once-in-seven-years gathering where the king reads the Torah to the entire nation, and why must it specifically be the king who reads? What does Chazal mean when they say "Hashem (ה׳) ori" (Hashem is my light) refers to Rosh Hashanah, and "v'yishi" (my salvation) to Yom Kippur? And finally, what does the Torah mean when it repeatedly commands us to "see God's face" (re'os ponai) at the Beis Hamikdash—an incorporeal Being has no face?
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Parsha
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
Up Next in this Series
Why does seeing a sotah inspire one to become a nazir? The nazir's abstention creates a pre-sin state where body and soul exist in perfect harmony. This 30-day period corrects the internal contradiction that led to his original transgression.
Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech, Devarim 31 (Hakhel); Parshas Re'eh, Devarim 12:5; Shemos 25:8
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
What is the primary purpose of the cities of refuge - protecting the accidental killer or something else? The shiur argues that creating respect for law takes precedence over providing sanctuary. True deterrence comes from recognizing the gravity of murder itself, not fear of punishment.
