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Va’etchanan 5785: Second Chances

What does Torah teach us about the possibility of starting over?

In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Wapner explore Parshat Va’etchanan through the unexpected appearance of the cities of refuge. They reflect on Moshe’s personal history as someone who once fled for taking a life, and how designating refuge cities now becomes a powerful act of humility, leadership, and legacy. The episode invites us to consider how Torah makes space for repair, rehabilitation, and the possibility of returning—even after failure.

Aviva Wapner

Aviva Wapner is a lawyer and Jewish educator whose teaching explores the relationship between halakha, Jewish thought, and contemporary legal and ethical questions. She studied law at Bar-Ilan University and has worked in the Israeli legal profession.

At Pardes, Aviva has taught on the relationship between Jewish law and Israel’s secular legal system, examining classical halakhic sources alongside Israeli Supreme Court decisions. Her other teaching includes rabbinic responses to tragedy, questions of justice and responsibility, and the possibilities for repair and renewal within Jewish tradition.