In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shoftim, the Torah commands the Bnei Yisrael to establish Arei Miklat, cities of refuge, where one who killed someone accidentally would run to seek safety and refuge from the go’el ha’dam, the redeemer of blood, of the deceased person. As...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Re’eh, Moshe Rabbeinu’s soliloquy to the nation continues. The parsha begins with the following stirring words: רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה, See I place before you today blessing and curse; אֶֽת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְע֗וּ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ ה’ אֱלֹֽקְיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Eikev, the great orator, teacher and leader, Moshe Rabbeinu, continues to speak to the nation from whom he is about to part ways. In reminding them of their years of desert travels and wanderings, Moshe tells the nation - and...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Va’Eschanan, Moshe Rabbeinu reviews the Aseres ha’Dibros, the Ten Commandments (lit. ‘the Ten Declarations’), with the nation. The Aseres ha’Dibros, which were given to the first generation at the foothills of Sinai forty years prior, are now repeated for the...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Devarim, the fifth book of Torah opens with the following words: אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים, אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּעֵבֶר, הַיַּרְדֵּן: בַּמִּדְבָּר בָּעֲרָבָה מוֹל סוּף בֵּין-פָּארָן וּבֵין-תֹּפֶל וְלָבָן וַחֲצֵרֹת--וְדִי זָהָב - these are the words that Moshe spoke to all of Israel on...
In Parshas Matos, the first of this week’s double parshios (chutz la’aretz), the Torah teaches us about a startling exchange between the Bnei Gad, Bnei Reuven and Moshe Rabbeinu. It is year forty of desert wanderings. The nation stands poised to imminently enter the Land,...
In this week’s parsha (chutz la’aretz), Parshas Pinchas, Moshe Rabbeinu is informed that he will see, but not enter, the Land. וַיֹּאמֶר ה’ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, עֲלֵה אֶל-הַר הָעֲבָרִים הַזֶּה; וּרְאֵה אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי, לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - and Hashem said to Moshe: ascend to this mount of...
In this week’s parsha (chutz la’aretz), Parshas Balak, we meet Balak the king of Moav who wishes to bring ruination upon Klal Yisrael. Seeing the success of the Bnei Yisrael with his neighboring countries, Balak is afraid of an attack by the nation of Israel. ...
In this week’s parsha (chutz la’aretz), Parshas Chukas, we learn of the laws of the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer, whose ashes purify one who has become tamei meis (ritually defiled by proximity/contact with a corpse). While its ashes, mixed with mayim chaim - ‘living...
In this week’s parsha (in chutz la’Aretz) Parshas Korach, Korach - a first cousin to Moshe and Aharon - leads a rebellion against the rulership of Moshe and the kehunah gedolah of Aharon. Fueled by personal motivations of jealousy, lust and the desire for honor,...