Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Balak WHEN THE ASS NOW SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, SHE LAY DOWN UNDER BIL'AM; AND BIL'AM WAS FURIOUS AND BEAT THE ASS WITH HIS STICK. THEN THE LORD OPENED THE ASS'S MOUTH, AND SHE SAID TO BIL'AM, "WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU THAT YOU HAVE BEATEN ME THESE THREE TIMES?" BIL'AM SAID TO THE ASS, "YOU HAVE MADE A MOCKERY OF ME! HAD I A SWORD WITH ME, I'D KILL YOU." THE...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Chukkat NOW THEY CAME, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, TO THE WILDERNESS OF TZIN, IN THE FIRST NEW-MOON. THE PEOPLE STAYED IN KADESH. MIRIAM DIED THERE, AND SHE WAS BURIED THERE. NOW THERE WAS NO WATER FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO THEY ASSEMBLED AGAINST MOSHE AND AGAINST AHARON. (Bemidbar 20:102) "Miriam died there, and she was buried there. Now there was no water for the community" – The lack of water was punishment...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Korach AHARON TOOK IT, AS MOSHE HAD SPOKEN, AND HE RAN TO THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY: AND HERE, THE PLAGUE HAD BEGUN AMONG THE PEOPLE! SO HE PUT THE SMOKING INCENSE IN IT, AND EFFECTED APPEASEMENT OF THE PEOPLE; NOW HE STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING, AND THE PLAGUE WAS HELD BACK (Bemidbar 17:12-13) The Incense As "A Weapon" In The Hands of Aharon – Lover and Pursuer of Peace –...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Shelach THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY LIFTED UP AND LET OUT THEIR VOICE, AND THE PEOPLE WEPT ON THAT NIGHT. AND THEY GRUMBLED AGAINST MOSHE AND AGAINST AHARON, ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THEY SAID TO THEM, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY: WOULD THAT WE HAD DIED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, OR IN THIS WILDERNESS, WOULD THAT WE HAD DIED! NOW WHY IS GOD BRINGING US TO THIS LAND, TO FALL BY THE SWORD? OUR WIVES AND OUR...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Behaalotcha NOW THE PEOPLE WERE LIKE THOSE WHO GRIEVE OVER ILL-FORTUNE, IN THE EARS OF GOD. WHEN GOD HEARD, HIS ANGER FLARED UP; THERE BLAZED UP AGAINST THEM A FIRE OF GOD AND ATE UP THE EDGE OF THE CAMP. THE PEOPLE CRIED OUT TO MOSHE, AND MOSHE INTERCEDED TO GOD AND THE FIRE ABATED. (Bemidbar 11:1-3) A Place's Character Is Determined By Its Inhabitants "For there had blazed against them the fire of...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Nasso – Shavuot ON THE THIRD DAY, AS MORNING DAWNED, THERE WAS THUNDER, AND LIGHTENING, AND A DENSE CLOUD UPON THE MOUNTAIN, AND A VERY LOUD BLAST OF THE HORN; AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE CAMP TREMBLED. MOSHE LED THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE CAMP TOWARD GOD, AND THEY TOOK THEIR PLACES AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN (Bemidbar 19:16-17) Acceptance of the Torah by Coercion v.s. Acceptance By Free...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Behukotay THESE ARE THE COMMANDMENTS THAT THE LORD GAVE MOSHE FOR THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE ON MOUNT SINAI. (Vayikra 27:34) THESE ARE THE LAWS, RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE LORD ESTABLISHED, THROUGH MOSHE ON MOUNT SINAI, BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE. (Vayikra 26:33) THESE ARE THE COMMANDMENTS AND REGULATIONS THAT THE LORD ENJOINED UPON THE ISRAELITES, THROUGH MOSHE, ON THE STEPPES OF MOAB, AT THE JORDAN NEAR JERICHO. (Bemidbar 36:13) Revelation, Tradition, and Innovation...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Behar DO NOT MALTREAT ONE ANOTHER, BUT FEAR YOUR GOD; FOR I THE LORD AM YOUR GOD YOU SHALL OBSERVE MY LAWS AND FAITHFULLY KEEP MY RULES, SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE UPON THE LAND IN SECURITY. (Vayikra 25: 17-18) "Do Not Maltreat… That You May Live Upon The Land In Security" DWELLING IN THE LAND IN SECURITY IS DEPENDENT UPON THE EXISTENCE OF AN ENLIGHTENED SOCIETY. Rebbi prepared a feast for his disciples....
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Emor THE LORD SAID TO MOSHE: SPEAK TO THE PRIESTS, THE SONS OF AHARON, AND SAY TO THEM: NONE SHALL DEFILE HIMSELF FOR ANY DEAD PERSON AMONG HIS KIN… THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSHE, SAYING: INSTRUCT AHARON AND HIS SONS… IF A MAN TOUCHES ANY SWARMING THING BY WHICH HE IS MADE UNCLEAN OR ANY HUMAN BEING BY WHOM HE IS MADE UNCLEAN – WHATEVER HIS UNCLEANLINESS – THE PERSON WHO TOUCHES SUCH SHALL BE...