Equality and Hierarchy- Parshat Korach
Parshat Korach The main slogan Korach used in order to sway people to his side in his rebellion against Moses and Aaron was encapsulated in this public declaration: “You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and God is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above God’s […]
The Sense of Hearing and Seeing
The Sense of Hearing and Seeing The story of the spies in the desert, who went on a reconnaissance mission to assess the habitability of the Land of Israel is detailed in the Torah portion of Shelach. Their trip, which happened over the entire month of Tamuz and ended tragically upon their return to the […]
Changing the Negative
Changing the Negative “God spoke to Moshe, saying: Speak to Aharon and say to him: ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall cast their light toward the face of the menorah’. Aharon did so; he lit the lamps toward the face of the menorah, as God had commanded Moshe” (Bamidbar 8:1-3). About the […]
Until the Flame Rises Up on its Own
Until the Flame Rises Up on its Own The portion of Beha’lotcha begins with a description of Aaron being commanded by God to light the menorah: “God spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and say to him: “When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall cast their light toward the face of the […]
Secrets of the Priestly Blessing
The Priestly Blessing Similar to every other part of the Torah, the Priestly Blessing, Birchat Kohanim, which is included in the Torah portion of Naso, is replete with meanings from the practical to the mystical. In order to understand one of the deepest secrets of Birchat Kohanim, we will first introduce a number of important […]
Bamidbar – The Twelve Tribes and the Twelve Months
The Twelve Tribes and the Twelve Months In the ancient text of Sefer Yetzirah, the twelve months of the year are connected to a specific letter, a constellation, a part of the body and a certain “sense.” Later Kabbalistic texts further connected the twelve months to a permutation of God’s four-letter name, a planet, an […]