Torah Portion "'נִצָּבִים/Netzavim" which means "You Are Standing" delivered on September 24, 2022.This week's portion covers Deuteronomy/Devarim 29:9 (10)-30:20 and begins, “Today you are standing, all of you, before Adonai your God — your heads, your tribes, your leaders and your officers — all the men of Isra’el, along with your little ones, your wives and your foreigners here with you in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water."In our portion today, Ro’eh focuses on the opening verses 29:9-14, and he shows us the gematria value points us to the threshold and door post, which is where we are to find strength for the point to the mezzuzah (door post) which contains the Shema, which is the reminder of the covenant we have joined. Ro’eh also discusses how the people of Israel in their “standing” do so in a powerful stance with dignity and pride. Using commentary from Me’am Lo’ez, we are shown a metaphor of gentiles and Jews being like beeswax and gold. From afar it is hard to tell the difference, but when heat is applied (tribulations) the beeswax melts but the gold glistens - Hashem’s retribution is likened to fire that refines! Ro’eh also shares a parable of a dying father who brings his sons to his deathbed where he gathers a bundle of reeds and asks his sons to break it. When they are unable, he then shows them it can be done one reed at a time, teaching that strength is found to be greatest when they are united, but they are weakened and can be broken when they are divided and alone.The Mussar lesson this week is Anavah - humility. Ro’eh teaches a very different understanding of this characteristic having to do with true humility - is it not debasing ourselves as we may have once been taught, but that we were born to make manifest the Glory of God by using to their full potential the gifts he gave us.Our Haftorah teaching is delivered by Brother Mark Honberger out of Isaiah 61:10-63:9.Please join us each week as we share the gems of Torah.Ro'eh Richard CortesThe Foundation of The Word Outreach Ministrieswww.thefoundationoftheword.orgAaronic Priestly Blessing performed by Rico Cortes of Wisdom In Torah Ministries https://wisdomintorah.com and used by permission.