In Parshat Bamidbar, we see that Moshe counted each of the people in Bnei Yisrael “בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת” – by their names. Our rabbi in shul touched on the idea that in this counting each person needed to feel as if they personally mattered. This made me think about a new understanding of the mishna in… Continue reading You Matter
Category: Sefer Bamidbar
Humility
In Parshat Behaalotcha we encounter the story of Miriam and Aharon, Moshe’s siblings, speaking Lashon Hara about him. They find out that Moshe is no longer able to be intimate with his wife because of his need to be constantly ready to receive prophecy, and they question whether this is correct, because they too are… Continue reading Humility
Matos-Maasei — Fighting on two Fronts
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Take full vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people.” 3Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD’S vengeance on Midian. 4“A thousand… Continue reading Matos-Maasei — Fighting on two Fronts
Weekly Mission: Mattot-Ma’asay
Parshat Mattos-Masei In the book of Bamidbar the Jews finish yet another obstacle in their path. The days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are in their stories. The Exodus from slavery left the Jews in happiness and ecstasy and a place for G-ds Divine spirit in the world was created. In this sefer(book) The Jews… Continue reading Weekly Mission: Mattot-Ma’asay
Pinchas- For the Love of the Land
From Rav Frand and the Talleli Oros- The daughters of Tzelafchad came to Moshe to ask for their deceased father’s portion in the Land of Israel, since their father had died without sons to inherit his portion. In tracing the lineage of the daughters of Tzelafchad, the Torah seems to provide redundant information. The pasuk… Continue reading Pinchas- For the Love of the Land
Balak- Time Management
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times (regalim)?” Rashi comments, homiletically, that the donkey incredulously asked Bilam, You are trying to curse and uproot the nation that keeps the 3 festivals (three times;… Continue reading Balak- Time Management
Chukas- Where Credit is Due
I bring you (from Tanach.org) a lengthy analysis of the sin of Moshe Rabbeinu’s striking a rock to retrieve water from it. Though he is sucessful, he is subsequently punished for a miscue not clearly defined in the Torah itself. This infamous sin loses Moshe a chance to enter the land of Israel. Many commentators… Continue reading Chukas- Where Credit is Due
Korach- Look Away, I’m Hideous!
Unlike Korach, Dasan and Aviram and the other 250 men, the Torah never reports what ultimately happened to On ben Peles, one of the member’s of Korach’s group. The gemara in Sanhedrin 109b-110a, however, reports that On was ultimately swayed by his wife to leave the whole fracas. She told him in the nicest way… Continue reading Korach- Look Away, I’m Hideous!
Shelach- Property of God’s People
37The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, 38“Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39“It shall be a tassel for you to… Continue reading Shelach- Property of God’s People
Be’ha’alscha- Happiness is Contagious
It’s long been said that laughter is contagious, and now, it turns out, so is happiness. Happiness is not an individual but a collective phenomenon, according to a new study released online Thursday in the British Medical Journal. The study, which followed almost 5,000 people over 20 years, found that happiness can spread through three… Continue reading Be’ha’alscha- Happiness is Contagious