בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT DEVARIM 5784 This week’s parsha begins with the following words in Deuteronomy 1 1 These are the words which Moses spoke unto all Israel beyond the Jordan; in the wilderness, in the Arabah, over against Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab.… Read More »GIVING CRITICISM, RECEIVING CRITICISM
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT DEVARIM 5784 Moses Reminds the People of Their Victory In the parsha of this week we read that Moses reminds the Jewish people, as encouragement, that they conquered the kingdom of Og. In Deuteronomy 3:4, we read: Deuteronomy 3:4 4 And we [the Jewish people] took… Read More »DIVINE ASSURANCE – OVERCOMING GIANTS AND ENEMIES
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT MATOT 5784 Vows in the Parsha This parsha addresses some specific Jewish mitzvot that are not relevant to Noahides. However, we can focus on the word “neder” at the beginning of the parsha. The Hebrew term “neder” refers to a voluntary verbal promise that is… Read More »VOWS AND ANNULMENT OF VOWS
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT PINCHAS 5784 LEADERSHIP, ETHICS, AND RESPONSIBILITY Pinchas and the Covenant of Priesthood The Jewish priesthood (kehunah) was initially established through Aaron and his four sons—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. This is detailed in the Book of Exodus (Exodus 28:1), where G-d commands Moses to set… Read More »THE MORAL DILEMMA OF PINCHAS
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT BALAK 5784 Parshat Balak 5784 – Why Bilaam was Not Allowed to Bless Israel with His Own Words Although the Torah portion is named after Balak, it seems that the main character is Bilaam, the non-Jewish prophet hired by Balak to curse the Jewish people.… Read More »WHY BILAAM WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BLESS ISRAEL WITH HIS OWN WORDS
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT CHUKAT 5784 Making Choices Numbers 21:23-26 And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel. וְלֹא־נָתַ֨ן סִיחֹ֣ן אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ עֲבֹ֣ר… Read More »MAKING CHOICES
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT KORACH 5784 Don’t Be Like Korach In the narrative of Korach’s rebellion, we encounter two allied factions opposing Moses: the group led by Korach and another led by Dathan and Abiram, supported by 250 “chieftains.” Both groups challenge Moses’ authority, questioning why he should place… Read More »BE A WARM AND SINCERE PERSON
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT SHLACH LECHA 5784 In Numbers 13:1-2 , we encounter that G-d did not command Moses to send spies to the land of Canaan but “for you” – for Moses. The wording of this permission raises questions about the necessity of sending spies when the land… Read More »REFLECTION ON THE SPIES AND TRUST IN DIVINE PROMISES
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT BEHA’ALOTECHA 5784 In Numbers 8:2 we read: Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him: When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick. דַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃ The Literal… Read More »LIGHTNING THE MENORAH
בס”ד A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT NASO 5784 Introduction Numbers 4:21-20 And the L-RD spoke unto Moses saying: וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר ד’ אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר but they shall not go in to see the holy things as they are being covered, lest they die. וְלֹֽא־יָבֹ֧אוּ לִרְא֛וֹת כְּבַלַּ֥ע אֶת־הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ וָמֵֽתוּ The parasha begins… Read More »THE CONNECTION BETWEEN KEHAT AND GERSHOM
