Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 Deuteronomy, 17:15-17: “You shall place upon yourself a King…Only, he will not have too many horses, and he will not return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, and Hashem said to you, you will not add to return in this way anymore. And he will… Read More »PARSHAT SHOFTIM – HAVING TOO MUCH MONEY
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 Devarim: 23:4-5: An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the congregation of Hashem, even their tenth generation shall not enter the congregation of Hashem. Because they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving Egypt…Devarim, 25:17-19: Remember what Amalek did to you, on… Read More »PARSHAT – KI TEITZEI – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOAB AND AMALEK
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
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 Devarim, 8:10: “You will eat and you will be satisfied, and you will bless Hashem, your God, for the good Land that He gave you.”Brachos, 48b: “From where do know that Grace after Meals is from the Torah? As it says, ‘and you will eat and you will be… Read More »Parshat Ekev – Blessing on Eating and Learning Torah
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 Devarim, 5:7: “You shall not recognize other gods in My Presence”.Devarim, 6:4: “Hear, Israel, HaShem is our G-d, HaShem is the One and Only.” Two of the most well-known passages in the Torah appear in this week’s Torah portion: The Ten Commandments and the Shema. On close analysis, there… Read More »Parshat Va’etchanan – Don’t Believe in Other G-ds Versus G-d is One
Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 ) Devarim, 1:1: “These are the words that Moshe spoke to all Israel, on the other side of the Jordan, concerning the Arabah, opposite the Sea of Reeds, between Paran and Tophel and Lavan, and Chatseirot and Dizahav.Rashi, Devarim, 1:1, Dh: Bein Paran: “…and on what they did in the desert of Paran through the spies.”Rashi, Devarim,… Read More »Parshat Devarim – Miriam and the Spies
Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1 ) This week’s Torah portion recounts the tragic events in the end of the last week’s portion, including the terrible sin of Baal Peor that culminated in the despicable act of immorality between Zimri, the Prince of the Tribe of Shimon and Kozbi, the Midianite Princess. On the surface,… Read More »Parshat Pinchas – The Connection between Kozbi, Jezebel, and the Righteous Wife of Rabbi Akiva
Matot (Numbers 30:2-32:42 ) Badmibar, 32:8: “They killed the Kings of Midian along with their slain ones; Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba, the five Kings of Midian; and Bilaam, son of Beor, they killed with the sword.”Yalkut Shimoni, Bamidbar, 685: “Rav Shmuel Bar Nachman says in the name of Rebbe Yochanan, When Pinchas went… Read More »Parshat Matot – The Death of Bilaam
Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1 ) Bamidbar, 21:33-34: “They turned and ascended by way of Bashan: Og, King of Bashan, went out against them, he and his entire people, to do battle at Edrei. Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Do not fear him, for into your hand have I given him, his entire people, and his… Read More »Parshat Chukat – Combine Good Actions with Good Intent
Korach (Numbers 16-18 ) The tragic story of Korach teaches us vital lessons about how even great people can come to commit grave sins through subtle character flaws. An analysis of the main protagonists of Korach’s rebellion shows that they were all righteous people who had seemingly valid motives for their rebellion… Read More »Parshat Korach – Discerning Our True Intentions
