By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

There are some Seforim and words of Torah that are written in such a manner that they seem to transcend the boundaries of print. The words are alive, and you can palpably feel that the person talking is there – speaking to you. It is thus a very aptly named book, “Yemima Mizrachi Speaks” because reading it makes one feel as if Rebbitzen Yemima Mizrachi is standing right before you.

Rebbitzen Mizrachi is emotional, happy and upbeat. She is highly perceptive, a tzadaikes as well as a trained lawyer (yes, it is possible), and has an uncanny ability to emotionally touch her listeners. Her uses of analogy and her eloquence allow the reader to relate to Yiddishkeit in the here and now. This book has captured her essence and this author believes there is not a person who will not enjoy its profound message.

This remarkable work was put together by a very talented writer, editor, translator named Shiffy Friedman – and the work speaks wonders about her talents and abilities to give voice in English to a fountain of Torah, hashkafa, and inspiration.

The book is filled with precious Divrei Torah, down to earth advice, inspiring insights, and very very wise short statements of sagacity. On page 144, for example the Rebbitzen writes, “A house in which the woman doesn’t sing in joy doesn’t have the capacity to draw salvation.” But she says things in ways that are not judgmental. Permeated throughout the sefer is the love and respect Rebbetzin Yemima Mizrachi has for Klal Yisroel and particularly – the mothers of Klal Yisroel.

Is this book written for women? Yes, absolutely. It can and does inspire them to a vastly higher madreiga. Will men benefit from it? Absolutely, yes, as well – not only for the Torah but also for the insight it offers in understanding women and how they can be inspired.

Her lessons drawn from the Parsha are immediate, practical, and crucially beneficial. Moshe Rabbeinu receives help from Aharon and Chur in keeping his hands raised. “You, dear mother, when it’s hard for you, don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

The Rebbitzen detects patterns in TaNaCh too. Why is that the oldest son has greater struggles than do his younger siblings (page 107)? She suggests that much of it has to do with our initial experiences as parents, where we think we can do it all ourselves, without asking for advice. Later, we realize our limitations and our firstborns suffer on account of it. Insights filled with wisdom.

The practical inspiration? On page 306, she writes, “When a woman stands over her Challah dough and experiences true yearning for her salvation and the salvation of her fellow Jews, she elevates the bread to an exalted level, one that will permeate the very body of those who will enjoy her challah.” Wow. What a powerful thought. And what responsibility as well.

In Parshas Bereishis she takes a homiletic explanation of the four rivers and provides practical inspiration for each of them. Nahar Pras – that river alludes to p’ru (of p’ru ur’vu fame) which refers to fertility. “Children are a blessing, dear women. One more child in your life will only amplify the light in your home.”

More wise advice (page 253): “More than the lavish meals and extravagant clothes you work tirelessly to provide for your loved ones, what they need most from you, dear wife and mother, is your time. How available are you for your family? Does your child know that Mommy can’t wait to hear about Morah’s new baby?.. They feel it, dear women, they feel it.”

The Rebbitzen unabashedly, lovingly, and inspiringly tells the reader to fully embrace all that Hashem and Yiddishkeit have to offer. On page 394, she says:

Come, dear sisters. Don’t stand on the side. Come under hashem’s faucet and allow your life to become saturated with Hashem’s blessing. How do you come toward Hashem? Bring him into your life, at every moment. Make Hashem a real presence in your home. Yiddishkeit should not be designated for specific times: for when you daven, for when the Chagim come. Yiddishkeit should enjoy a vibrant, central place in your life.

There are 437 pages to this powerful Sefer. Each parsha has sub-headings wherein the idea that follows is explicated. The downside is that it is missing an index, and its table of contents could have included the subheadings to make it a bit more comprehensive. True, most people will learn this sefer on the parsha each week, but they might wish to recall a powerful section they had seen five months earlier, and will have difficulty finding it. Hopefully this will become rectified in future editions.

This sefer will inspire people on every different level. The insights, humor and love will impact everyone. No home should be without it.

The reviewer can be reached at [email protected]