Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 ) “Who is the man who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, and let him not melt the heart of his fellows to be like his heart.” (1) The Torah commands anyone who is afraid of going to war to leave the battlefield… Read More »PARSHAT SHOFTIM – OUR INFLUENCE ON OTHERS
Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 ) The Torah forbids various forms of mourning that were prevalent among the non-Jewish nations. One of the reasons that these were forbidden is they were too excessive, ascribing a sense of permanency to death, when in truth, we know that the person’s soul continues to exist and lives… Read More »PARSHAT RE’EH – MOURNING FOR A PARENT
Ekev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 ) In this week’s Portion, the Torah commands the people to go in the ways of G-d and to “cling to Him.” (1) The Sifri,(2) quoted by Rashi, asks how it is possible to cling to G-d, given that He is described in another place in the Torah as… Read More »PARSHAT EKEV – CLINGING TO THE WISE MAN
V’etchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 ) Devarim, 6:5: “You shall love HaShem, your G-d, with all our heart, with all your soul, and with all your resources.” Rashi, 6:5, sv. With all your heart: With both of your inclinations. Va’etchanan features the first paragraph of the Shema, where we are told to serve G-d with all… Read More »PARSHAT V’ETCHANAN – USING THE GOOD INCLINATION FOR THE GOOD
Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 ) The Torah Portion begins with Moses rebuking the Jewish people for the various sins that they committed in the desert. One of the first sins that he addresses is that of the spies. Moshe recalls the events that led to this tragic occurrence. “And you all approached me… Read More »PARSHAT DEVARIM – THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CALMNESS AND TRUST IN GOD
Deuteronomy 31 Devarim, 31:12: “Gather together the people – the men, the women and the small children, and your stranger who is in your cities – so that they will hear and so that they will learn, and they will fear Hashem, your God, and be careful to perform all the… Read More »PARSHAT VAYELECH – BRINGING THE CHILDREN
Matot (Numbers 30:2-32:42 ) When the Gerrer Rebbe, the Sfat Emet was a boy, he was looked after by his grandfather, the great Chiddushei Harim, the first Gerrer Rebbe. On one occasion, the Sfat Emet stayed awake for most of the night learning Torah until he fell asleep in the early morning.… Read More »PARSHAT MATOT: ACCEPTING REBUKE
Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1 ) The Torah portion begins with G-d rewarding Pinchas greatly for his act of zealousness in killing Zimri and Cozbi who were committing a grave sin. Pinchas was from the tribe of Levi whilst Zimri was from the tribe of Shimon. This is not the first time in the… Read More »PARSHAT PINCHAS: SHIMON AND LEVI
Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9 ) Pirkei Avot, 5:19: Anyone who has in his hands these three things, is from the students of Avraham, our Father; and three other things, is from the students of the wicked Bilaam : A good eye, lowly spirit, and humble soul – is from the students of, Avraham, our Father.… Read More »PARSHAT BALAK – AVRAHAM AND BILAAM: TOTAL OPPOSITES
Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1 ) Bamidbar, 21:4-7: They journeyed from Mount Hor by way of the Sea of Reeds to go around the land of Edom, and the spirit of the people grew short with the road. The people spoke against G-d and against Moshe: ‘Why have you brought us up from Egypt… Read More »PARSHAT CHUKAT: THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS
