Towards the end of this week’s parsha, Parshas Shoftim, the Torah teaches us about the parameters and mitzvos in regard to going out to battle (Devarim chapter 20). The opening pasukim tell us: כִּי-תֵצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל-אֹיְבֶךָ, וְרָאִיתָ סוּס וָרֶכֶב עַם רַב מִמְּךָ--לֹא תִירָא, מֵהֶם: כִּי-ה’ אֱלֹקָיךָ...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Re’eh, we are commanded regarding the mitzvah of giving tzedaka. כִּי-יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֶבְיוֹן מֵאַחַד אַחֶיךָ, בְּאַחַד שְׁעָרֶיךָ, בְּאַרְצְךָ, אֲשֶׁר- ה אֱלֹקְיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ--לֹא תְאַמֵּץ אֶת-לְבָבְךָ, וְלֹא תִקְפֹּץ אֶת-יָדְךָ, מֵאָחִיךָ, הָאֶבְיוֹן - If there will be among you a needy person, from...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Eikev, the eloquent speech, and impactful teachings, of Moshe Rabbeinu continue. Among the many topics in the parsha, we learn that not by bread alone does man live, but rather from the Emanations of G-d’s Mouth does man live (8:3);...
This week’s sedra, Va’Eschanan, opens with the tefilos of Moshe Rabbeinu to be allowed entry into Eretz Yisrael (E”Y). The opening verses of the parsha tell us of the content and structure of Moshe’s prayer: וָאֶתְחַנַּ֖ן אֶל ה בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹֽר - and I pleaded...
Sefer Devarim, Parshas Devarim. Sefer Devarim differs from the first four books of Chumash, in that those books were dictated by Hashem to Moshe, who transcribed them, while the fifth book - Devarim - are the words of Moshe Rabbeinu himself. In the final days...
Parshas Matos, the first of this week’s double parshios of Matos-Masei, begins with the Torah instructing us regarding the laws of vows and oaths, both for a man and a woman. While these mitzvos are complicated and intricate (and far beyond the scope of this...
In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Pinchas, we learn of various important topics and lessons, relevant to the nation as they approach the end of their forty year wandering in the desert, and prepare to cross into the Land of Israel, under the leadership of Yehoshua...
In the second of this week’s parshios (Chukas-Balak in Chutz la’Aretz), we learn of Balak, the king of Moav, who hired Bilaam, the Prophet/Sorcerer, to curse the Jewish nation. As Am Yisrael was camped on the borders of the Promised Land, and as they had...
In this week’s sedra (in Chutz la’Aretz) we read of the machlokes (strife) and rebellion that was instigated by Korach, a first cousin to Moshe and Aharon (their fathers, Yitzhar and Amram, respectively, were brothers). Korach was jealous over their positions as melech (Moshe) and...
In this week’s sedra (in Chutz la’Aretz), Shelach, we learn of the infamous sin of Cheit Ha’Meraglim. On the cusp of entry to the land of Israel, just over a year after leaving Egypt, Moshe sent twelve scouts, one man from each tribe, to investigate...