In Parshas Balak, Balak the king of Moav, along with the elders of Midyan - fearing the power of the Bnei Yisrael - hire Bilaam the sorcerer/prophet to curse the nation of Israel. The goal, like that of our enemies throughout time, is to destroy...
In Parshas Chukas the Torah teaches us about “zos chukas ha’Torah”, the enigmatic mitzvah of Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer. The cow had to be entirely red, and even two black hairs invalidated it. It had to be pure, without blemish, and never had a...
In Parshas Korach, the Torah teaches us about a rebellion against the leadership of Moshe and Aharon. The head of the rebels, Korach ben Yitzhar ben Kehas ben Levi, was a first cousin to Moshe and Aharon, their fathers (Amram and Yitzhar) being brothers. Numerous...
In Parshas Shelach, the Torah relates to us the Cheit Ha’Meraglim, the infamous Sin of the Spies, who were sent to scout out the land of Israel, ahead of the nation’s planned entry into the Land. Choosing twelve select men - one man from each tribe...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Behaaloscha, many fascinating events are recorded. Among the many topics in the parsha, are some of the following: The parsha begins with the command to Aharon to light the menorah in the Mishkan, which was lit every evening of the...
In Parshas Naso, the pasukim delineate the Birkas Kohanim: the ancient and timeless prayer, bestowed by the kohanim upon the nation, since the days of Aharon Ha’Kohen, to our time today. יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ ה’ וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃, May Hashem bless you and guard you; יָאֵ֨ר ה’ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ , May...
The reading of Parshas Bamidbar always precedes Chag Ha’Shavuos. This means that there are connections between the two, and lessons we can derive from Parshas Bamidbar into the giving, and receiving, of the Torah. The pasuk tells us: וְאֵ֛לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֥ת אַהֲרֹ֖ן וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה בְּי֗וֹם דִּבֶּ֧ר ה’ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה...
With the double sidra of Behar-Bechukosai, we close the book of Vayikra once again. Parshas Behar outlines the mitzvos of Shemittah and Yovel, while Bechukosai records a lengthy list of klalos (curses) that will befall the nation when they stray from the path of G-d...
In Parshas Emor, the Torah journeys through the festivals which make up the Jewish calendar year. After the introductory phrases which introduce the concept of the mo’adim and exhort us regarding the weekly Shabbos (Vayikra 23:1-3), the Torah moves to the festivals. Beginning with the Korban...
Last Shabbos, we read the double sidra of Tazria-Metzora, and this week, we read the double sidra of Achrei Mos-Kedoshim. As our dvar Torah of last week related to the inyanei d’yoma of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut (if you missed it, here is the...