Pinchas – Vengeance
Vengeance The desecration of the name of the L-rd is the gravest of sins. It strikes at the very existence and reality of the G-d of Israel. It is intolerable that it be allowed, and impossible that it not be erased. When Pinchas beheld the open Chillul Hashem that took place at Shittim, he burned […]
Balak – Seek No Allies
Seek No Allies To be alone is the destiny of the Jew ever since it was decreed “Hen, am l’vadad yishkon,” “Lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone” (Numbers 23:9). But the word “hen,” which is generally translated as a poetical “lo,” is much more than that, since the Torah is not primarily […]
Chukat – Chukim-To What End
Chukim: To What End? The Torah declares concerning the Red Heifer, “This is the chok of the Torah” (Numbers 19:2). Rashi comments: “Since Satan and the nations ridicule Israel, saying, ‘What is this commandment and what is its rationale?’ the Torah uses the word ‘chok,’ as if to say, ‘It is a divine decree and […]
Shelach – Pikuach Nefesh is Irrelevant
Pikuach Nefesh Is Irrelevant “Send forth men to spy out the Land of Canaan” (Numbers 13:1). (“All ‘men’ mentioned in Scripture are men of importance.” – Rashi) “So I took 12 men from among you, one from each tribe” (Deuteronomy 1:23). (“From the choicest of you, from the most excellent.” – Rashi) The Children of […]
BeHa’alotekha – Revenge is Holy
Revenge Is Holy “Arise, O L-rd, and scatter Your enemies! Let Your foes flee before You” (Numbers 10:35). The Sifri (Behaalot’cha 84) asks, “Can He who created the world be said to have ‘enemies’?” Rather, the verse informs us that if someone hates the Jewish people, it is as though he hates G-d. The Sifri […]
Naso2 – The Truth Passed Him By
The Truth Passed Him By “When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with [G-d], he heard the voice speaking to him from atop the cover that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim” (Numbers 7:89). On this verse, the Rabbis comment, “Moses heard but the Jewish people did […]
Naso – Israels Shame is Gods Shame
Israel’s Shame Is G-d’s Shame “May the L-rd lift up His countenance unto you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:26). Rashi explains that “give you peace” means “conquer His anger.” This explanation, however, is difficult to understand, for when a person is chastised, who lowers his visage in shame, if not he? Thus, when the […]
BaMidbar – Loyalty to God Above All
Loyalty to G-d Above All “Appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the Tabernacle” (Numbers 1:50). The Levites were chosen […]
BeChukotai – A Glorius Redemption Or
A Glorious Redemption Or… “If you follow My statutes…I will bring peace in the land…. But if you do not listen to Me and carry out all these commands…I will bring on you sudden terror” (Leviticus 26:3-16). This is the incontrovertible law of the Jewish people, and there is no escaping it. Whether the Jew’s […]
BeHar – Babylonian Jewrys Sin
Babylonian Jewry’s Sin “I am the L-rd, your G-d, who brought you out of the Land of Egypt to give you the Land of Canaan, to be your G-d” (Leviticus 25:38). On this verse, the Tosefta (Avoda Zara 5:2) states, “As long as you are in Canaan, I will be your G-d. If you are […]