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
בס”ד Behar (Leviticus 25:1-26:2 ) This week’s Torah portion begins with the laws of Shemmitah, the sabbatical that requires the land (of Israel) resting every seven years, and is immediately followed by the prohibition of onaat maamon, consumer protection laws that protect a buyer from being deceived and over charged. The commentaries discuss… Read More »PARSHAT BEHAR 5785 HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY
בס”ד Emor (Leviticus 21-24 ) The Torah Portion ends with the terrible story of ‘the blasphemer’ – the son of an Egyptian man and Jewish woman, who blasphemed G-d’s name. It is apparent to the commentaries that this man was of a low spiritual standing. Nonetheless, they strive to explain how a… Read More »PARSHAT EMOR 5785 THE FOOLISHNESS OF ANGER
בס”ד Metzora (Leviticus 14-15 ) Vayikra, 14:2-4: This shall be the law of the metsora on the day of his purification: He shall be brought to the Kohen. The Kohen shall go to the outside of the camp; the Kohen shall look and behold, the tzoraas affliction had been healed from the metsora. The Kohen shall command;… Read More »PARSHAT METZORA 5785 – INSIGHTS IN RASHI – THE TWO BIRDS
בס”ד Shemini (Leviticus 9-11 ) Shemini gives the account of the tragic deaths of Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu. At the climax of the inauguration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the two men entered the Holy of Holies and brought their own incense without having been commanded to do so. After they entered,… Read More »PARSHAT SHEMINI 5785 – THE BENEFIT OF RELATIONSHIPS
בס”ד Tzav (Leviticus 6-8 ) A well-known feature of the Haggadah is the prominence of the number four: the four questions, the four sons, the four languages of redemption, the four cups of wine. Fascinatingly, on deeper analysis, these sets of four all have hints of actually having a fifth member! The… Read More »PARSHAT TZAV 5785 – THE SYMBOLISM OF FIVE IN THE HAGGADAH
