22 Sivan 5783 – 11 June 2023 “The manna was like coriander seed and it is similar to the appearance of crystal“ The sages of the Midrash teach that this heavenly food would have the taste of whatever you were thinking of. The Chafetz Chayim was once asked what the… Read More »Numbers 11:7 – Be Mindful
20 Sivan 5783 – 9 June 2023 “When you kindle the lamps, the seven lamps shall cast their light toward the face of the Menorah” The Hebrew word for “kindle” here is not the normal word for lighting (hadlakah), but an unusual term that means to raise up (ma’alah). Based… Read More »Numbers 8:2 – There was a Step in Front of the Menorah?
12 Sivan 5783 – 2 June 2023 “May Hashem bless you and safeguard you” (Numbers 6:24). The Priestly blessing for abundance can become a stumbling block. In the Torah, God warned the Jewish people about what might happen when they finally settle in the Promised Land. “Lest you eat and… Read More »Numbers 6:24 – Priestly Blessing a Stumbling Block?
11 Sivan 5783 – 31 May 2023 “They shall confess their sin that they have committed…” (Numbers 5:7). Confession is a basic requirement in the atonement process for all wrongful behavior. Why is it that that the commandment for confession is stated here in the context of the sin of… Read More »Numbers 5:7 – Every Sin is a form of Stealing?
10 Sivan 5783 – 30 May 2023 When the Torah speaks about repentance for stealing, it says: “They shall confess their sins that they did…” (Numbers 5:7). This sentence just could have said “they shall confess their sins” – the words ‘that they did’ seem extra. R’ Yaakov Aharon of… Read More »Numbers 5:7 – What Led a Person to Steal?
9 Sivan 5783 – 29 May 2023 “So shall you bless the Children of Israel, saying (‘amor’) to them.” (Numbers 6:23) The word ‘amor’ in Hebrew means ‘say’ as in our verse, but it can also mean love. (Interestingly, amore in English/Italian also means love!) We see an example of… Read More »Number 6:23 – Amor
4 Sivan 5783 – 24 May 2023 “…Hashem is your shadow…” (Psalm 121:5) The Baal Shem Tov taught that just as our shadows move with us, the Almighty’s relationship with us follows our movements in life. For example, if we judge others favorably and with compassion – G-d will judge… Read More »Tehillim 121:5 – Hashem is your Shadow
28 Iyar 5783 – 19 mei 2023 “The children of Israel shall camp, each man by his banner, with the emblems of their fathers’ houses; they shall camp some distance from the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 2:2). This chapter deals with the organization of the camp Israel into their set… Read More »Numbers 2:2 – Unity
23 Iyar 5783 – 14 mei 2023 “And they gathered the entire nation on the first day of the second month…according to the number of the names…” What is meant by “according to the number of the names”? Ramban (Nachmanides) explains: Hashem told Moses to count each and every person… Read More »Numbers 1:18 – Each Person is Unique
18 Iyar 5783 – 9 May 2023 “You shall sanctify the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land for all of its inhabitants; it shall be the Jubilee year for you…” (Leviticus 25:10). This verse contains the stirring phrase that was engraved on Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell in 1752. The… Read More »Leviticus 25:10 – When is a Society Liberated?
