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Welcome to '''Step 4''' — a wiki of accessible Torah wisdom, tightly bound to identifiable sources in TaNaCh, Gemara, and Mesorah.
Welcome to '''Step 4''' — a wiki of accessible Torah wisdom, tightly bound to identifiable sources in TaNaCh, Gemara, and Mesorah.
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'''[[Kiddush: Tirosh or Tirash: Wine, Daas, and the Inner Work of Kiddush]]''' explores a profound tension hidden in the Hebrew language itself. The word for wine — ''tirosh'' contains within it the word ''tirash'', meaning poverty. Rabbi Gershenfeld draws on this linguistic duality to illuminate the inner work of Kiddush: wine elevates when approached with ''daas'' (deep, integrated knowledge), but diminishes when consumed without it.
'''[[Teshuvah: Beyond the Ledger Returning to the Source]]''' {{AISummaryDisclaimer}}
 
The shiur traces this theme through the Zohar and Maharal, showing how Kiddush is not merely a ritual declaration but an act of consciousness — a moment in which a person either rises toward Shabbos or retreats from it. The choice between ''tirosh'' and ''tirash'' is the choice between presence and absence, between sanctification and its opposite.


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[[Kiddush: Tirosh or Tirash: Wine, Daas, and the Inner Work of Kiddush|Read full article...]]
[[Teshuvah: Beyond the Ledger — Returning to the Source|Read full article...]]
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'''Recently featured:''' [[Kiddush: Wine as Sod in Kiddush: Bridging the Hidden and the Revealed|Wine as Sod in Kiddush]] · [[Kiddush: Bridging Zohar and Maharal: Wine, Binah, and the Meaning of Kiddush|Bridging Zohar and Maharal]] · [[Shabbos: The Framework of Oneg and Kedusha|Oneg and Kedusha]]
'''Published:''' September 8, 2026
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<div style="font-size:1.1em; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:4px;">Parashat Matot-Masei</div>
===Parashat Ha’azinu===
<div style="font-size:0.9em; color:#555; margin-bottom:8px;">Shabbat, 26 Tammuz 5786 · July 11, 2026 · Numbers 30:2–36:13</div>
<div style="color:#555; font-size:0.9em; margin-top:-8px; margin-bottom:8px;">8 Tishrei 5787 · September 19, 2026 · Deuteronomy 32:1-52</div>
 
'''Matot''' ("Tribes") opens with the laws of vows and oaths — a person's word has the power to create binding obligations. The parsha continues with the war against Midian and the allocation of spoils, and addresses the request of the tribes of Reuven and Gad to settle east of the Jordan, which Moshe permits on condition they lead the conquest.
 
'''Masei''' ("Travels"), the final portion of Sefer Bamidbar, opens with a complete list of the forty-two journeys of the Israelites in the desert. Hashem commands the destruction of idolatry in the Land, outlines Israel's borders, and establishes the laws of cities of refuge for accidental killers.


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''Summary for Ha’azinu coming soon.''
'''Haftarah (Ashkenaz):''' Jeremiah 2:4–28, 3:4 &nbsp;·&nbsp; ''Shabbat Chazon'' (next week)
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We are currently in '''the Three Weeks''' (17 Tammuz – 9 Av), a period of mourning for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash.
'''Haftarah (Ashkenaz):''' Hosea 14:2-10; Joel 2:15-27 | Shabbat Shuva (with Ha'azinu)
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[https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.30.2?lang=bi Read on Sefaria →]
[https://www.sefaria.org/search#query=Ha’azinu Read on Sefaria →]
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🗓 Upcoming Holidays
🗓 Upcoming Holidays
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| Rosh Hashana 5787 — Jewish New Year (5787) || September 12, 2026
! style="text-align:left; padding:3px 6px; border-bottom:1px solid #ddd; color:#555; font-size:0.85em;" | Date
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| style="padding:4px 6px;" | '''Tisha B'Av''' Fast & mourning for the Temple
| Rosh Hashana II Second day of Rosh Hashana || September 13, 2026
| style="padding:4px 6px; white-space:nowrap;" | July 22–23, 2026
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| style="padding:4px 6px; background:#f0f4f8;" | '''Tu B'Av''' — Day of joy and renewal
| Tzom Gedaliah || September 14, 2026
| style="padding:4px 6px; background:#f0f4f8; white-space:nowrap;" | July 28–29, 2026
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| style="padding:4px 6px;" | '''Rosh Hashana''' Jewish New Year (5787)
| Erev Yom Kippur Eve of Yom Kippur || September 20, 2026
| style="padding:4px 6px; white-space:nowrap;" | Sept 11–13, 2026
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| style="padding:4px 6px; background:#f0f4f8;" | '''Yom Kippur''' — Day of Atonement
| Yom Kippur — Day of Atonement — holiest day of the year || September 21, 2026
| style="padding:4px 6px; background:#f0f4f8; white-space:nowrap;" | Sept 20–21, 2026
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| style="padding:4px 6px;" | '''Sukkot''' Feast of Tabernacles
| Erev Sukkot — Eve of Sukkot || September 25, 2026
| style="padding:4px 6px; white-space:nowrap;" | Sept 25 – Oct 2, 2026
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| style="padding:4px 6px; background:#f0f4f8;" | '''Shmini Atzeret / Simchat Torah'''
| Sukkot I — First day of Sukkot || September 26, 2026
| style="padding:4px 6px; background:#f0f4f8; white-space:nowrap;" | Oct 2–4, 2026
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<div style="font-size:0.82em; color:#666; margin-top:4px;">All dates begin at sundown of the evening prior. Times are for Diaspora.</div>
All dates begin at sundown of the evening prior. Times are for Diaspora.
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'''About Step 4:''' This wiki preserves Torah wisdom learned from Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld — tightly bound to identifiable sources in TaNaCh, Gemara, and Mesorah; deep; and relevant. [[Main Page/About|Learn more →]]
'''About Step 4:''' This wiki preserves Torah wisdom learned from Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld — tightly bound to identifiable sources in TaNaCh, Gemara, and Mesorah; deep; and relevant. [[Main Page/About|Learn more →]]
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Latest revision as of 17:05, 12 September 2026

Welcome to Step 4 — a wiki of accessible Torah wisdom, tightly bound to identifiable sources in TaNaCh, Gemara, and Mesorah.

✦ Today's Featured Article

Teshuvah: Beyond the Ledger — Returning to the Source

Note: This summary was generated by AI based on the transcript of the shiur. It was not written or reviewed by Rabbi Gershenfeld.

Published: September 8, 2026

? Did You Know...

  • ...that the word tirosh (wine) contains tirash (poverty), and this duality is the key to understanding Kiddush? (source)
  • ...that Shabbos candles are not merely about light, but about establishing seder — an ordered, purposeful framework for Shabbos?
  • ...that the phrase Av Hamon Goyim — "father of a multitude of nations" — encodes a transformation in Avraham's very identity?
  • ...that true leadership begins with recognizing that Hashem is the Elokei HaRuchos — the G-d of all spirits?
  • ...that Kiddush Hashem is not only about martyrdom but about how we live every ordinary moment?

📖 This Week's Parsha

Parashat Ha’azinu

[edit | edit source]
8 Tishrei 5787 · September 19, 2026 · Deuteronomy 32:1-52

Summary for Ha’azinu coming soon.

Haftarah (Ashkenaz): Hosea 14:2-10; Joel 2:15-27 | Shabbat Shuva (with Ha'azinu)

🗓 Upcoming Holidays

Holiday Date
Rosh Hashana 5787 — Jewish New Year (5787) September 12, 2026
Rosh Hashana II — Second day of Rosh Hashana September 13, 2026
Tzom Gedaliah September 14, 2026
Erev Yom Kippur — Eve of Yom Kippur September 20, 2026
Yom Kippur — Day of Atonement — holiest day of the year September 21, 2026
Erev Sukkot — Eve of Sukkot September 25, 2026
Sukkot I — First day of Sukkot September 26, 2026
All dates begin at sundown of the evening prior. Times are for Diaspora.

About Step 4: This wiki preserves Torah wisdom learned from Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld — tightly bound to identifiable sources in TaNaCh, Gemara, and Mesorah; deep; and relevant. Learn more →