Collected Archive of Shoemaker Reports
The Shoemaker Report is Rav Hoshea’s weekly Torah publication. Its focus is on internalizing and living Torah from the heart, not only from the head. The divrei Torah often take the parashah of the week as their point of entry and address central questions of inner avodah — including teshuvah, prayer (tefillah), emunah, bitachon, and related areas of spiritual and personal refinement.
The writing assumes seriousness from the reader and speaks from within Torah life, with meaning emerging organically from honest analysis of our holy Torah and the words of Chazal, rather than from short-lived inspiration or simplified conclusions.
At the end of Parashat Shemot, B’nei Yisrael believe Moshe’s promise of redemption. But after Pharaoh intensifies the bondage, they can no longer hear it. Not rebellion, but kotzer ruach – a collapse of human capacity under crushing pain. The Torah records this without blame, and redemption moves forward anyway.
Galut does not begin with hatred or cruelty. It begins when memory dies. This report traces Egypt’s exile not to oppression, but to a deliberate forgetting of Yosef – showing how societies collapse when contribution no longer creates obligation, and consumption replaces covenant.
A profound reading of Parashat Vayechi exploring why Ya'akov buried Rachel on the road and Leah in Ma'arat ha-Machpelah. This report traces how Ya'akov places truth, love, and destiny at the end of life – revealing exile, permanence, and where each truth belongs.
Yosef’s refusal of Potiphar’s wife's advances was more than superhuman restraint. The Komarna Rebbe reveals that his strength came from hitkashrut to the tzaddik — the shalshelet of the Avot — the hidden power that empowered him to withstand even the fiercest temptation.
Why does Hashem lift us only to send us down again? Rebbe Nachman teaches that ascent is just the breath before a descent. Through Parashat Toledot, we see how even our descents—whether struggles or missions—become pathways to deeper light, strength, and true tikkun.
Fear disqualifies a man from battle—not only fear of swords, says R’ Akiva, but even fear of one’s own sins, says R’ Yosi ha-G’lili. The Torah hints that true war is spiritual: rescuing sparks of holiness from captivity, where the Shechinah itself waits for release.
Hashem commanded a war of vengeance against Midian, led by twelve thousand holy warriors who guarded their eyes with fierce dedication. This essay uncovers the deep connection between shemirat einayim, unholy spiritual forces, and the catastrophic power of androlomusia.
Everything we need for the day is already prepared in advance. The tools are here—just step into the "toolshed" and strengthen emunah, inner clarity, and Divine guidance. Discover how trust and perspective unlock our path in this powerful Torah insight. Explore the deeper meaning of the morning berachah: "Who provided for me all of my needs."
Aharon's hesitation at the Mishkan’s inauguration reveals a powerful lesson: true humility and reverence can be the very reasons we’re chosen for greatness. Discover how Moshe’s and Aharon’s contrasting responses shaped their divine roles in this deep exploration of leadership and self-awareness.
Discover the profound spiritual significance of salt. This in-depth exploration of Vayikra 2:13, based on the Zohar and Likutei Moharan, reveals how guarding the brit (covenant) sweetens life’s hardships, mitigates financial struggles, and strengthens emunah. Uncover the secret of the “salt of the covenant” today!
Ya’akov’s secret simanim to Rachel and the kohanim’s sanctification share a hidden purpose—removing impurity for divine service. Exploring Kabbalistic insights, this article uncovers the deep spiritual connection between these rituals, shedding light on holiness, purity, and the power of tz’niut.
The Torah teaches that someone who injures another is responsible for medical expenses (Shemot 21:19). This passage also introduces the phrase "v'rapo y'rapei," which leads to a deeper exploration of the role of doctors and the spiritual implications of healing. What secret do these words come to reveal?
