בס”ד Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 ) Devarim,1:38: Yehoshua, who stands before you he will come there, you should strengthen him, because he will inherit Yisrael.Baal HaTurim, 1:38: Because serving is greater than learning. Moshe recalls how G-d instructed him that he would not enter the land of Israel, and instead he would be replaced as… Read More »PARSHAT DEVARIM – JOSHUA: THE MODEL STUDENT
בס”ד Masay (Numbers 33-36 ) Bamidbar, 33:1: “These are the journeys of the Children of Israel who left the land of Mitzrayim according to their groups, in the hands of Moshe and Aaron.”Bamidbar Rabbah, 23:3: “It is analogous to a King whose son was sick. He took him to one place to heal him.… Read More »PARSHAT MASEI 5785 – OUR ATTITIDUE TO THE PAST
בס”ד Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1 ) On the importance of learning and teaching Torah. Towards the end of the Torah Portion, there is the account of Moses’ request that G-d appoint an able successor to lead the Jewish people into the land of Israel. G-d answered him that his faithful student, Joshua, is… Read More »PARSHAT PINCHAS 5785 – WHY G-D CHOSE JOSHUA
בס”ד Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9 ) The Sages tell us that Bilaam had incredible powers of prophecy which in some ways were even greater than those of Moses. Yet, at the same time, he possessed numerous bad character traits. How can these two opposite factors come together in one man? The answer is… Read More »PARSHAT BALAK 5785 – LIVING FOR GOD
בס”ד Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1 ) Bamidbar, 20:12: “And Hashem said to Moshe and to Aaron, ‘since you did not believe in Me to sanctify me in the eyes of the Children of Israel, therefore you will not bring this Congregation to the Land which I have given them.”Rashi, Bamidbar, 20:12, Dh: Lehakdisheini: “That if you… Read More »PARSHAT CHUKAT 5785 – THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ANGER AND FAITH
בס”ד Korach (Numbers 16-18 ) Bamidbar, 16:3: “And the gathered against Moshe and Aaron and said to them: ‘This is too much for you, for the enter community is holy and Hashem is within them. So why do you elevate yourself over the Congregation of Hashem’?!”Gemara, Shabbos, 119b: “Jerusalem was destroyed only because they equated… Read More »PARSHAT KORACH 5785 – THE PERILS OF KORACH’S ARGUMENT
בס”ד Shlach (Numbers 13-15 ) Bamidbar, 13:22: “And they went up to the Negev and he came to Chevron…”Rashi, 13:22: Dh: Vayavo: Kalev alone went to there, and he prayed upon the graves of the Forefathers, that he should not be enticed by his fellow [spies] to be in their counsel, and as it says, ‘to him [Kalev]… Read More »PARSHAT SHELACH 5785 – AVOIDING COMPLACENCY
בס”ד Be’halot’cha (Numbers 8-12 ) Bamidbar, 12:6: “Please listen to My words…”Rashi, 12:6: Dh: Shimu na: “The language of please, is always in a language of request.Siftei Chachamim, 12:6, Os 80: “This means to say that even though G-d was angry with them…nonetheless the language of please is always in a language of request… Read More »PARSHAT BE’HALOT’CHA 5785 – PLEASE DON’T INTERRUPT ME
בס”ד Naso (Numbers 4:21-7:89 ) Towards the end of the Portion, the Torah describes at great length the offerings of the Nesi’im (Princes) on the day that the Tabernacle was sanctified. What is unusual about this section is that every Prince offered exactly the same offerings, yet the Torah describes each one… Read More »PARSHAT NASO 5785 – THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL
בס”ד Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20 ) In the Book of Ruth, which is read on Shavuot, there is one enigmatic character; it’s not even clear what is his real name. He is known as Ploni Almoni which is the Jewish version of John Doe – the epitome of the anonymous person. He features… Read More »PARSHAT BAMIDBAR 5785 – THE ENIGMATIC CHARACTER IN THE BOOK OF RUTH
