Amazing Relationship in the Parsha Between Lines and Circles
Juxtapositions From time immemorial commentators have wondered about the juxtaposition of the contents in many Torah portions. Some portions follow entirely logical arrangements, whether chronological, if a story is being told, or thematic, if particular laws are being taught; however, many other portions consist of a wide range of material with no obvious connection. Rashi […]
Powerful messages in the Parshah A Separate Book in Torah
In the Torah portion of Beha’alotcha, we find a phenomenon that occurs nowhere else in the entire Tanach: two sentences are bracketed off from the rest of the text by two backward-facing and inverted Hebrew letters, two nuns, to be exact: And when the ark would journey, Moses said: “Arise God and let your […]
Abraham’s Journey- Parshat Masei
Parshat Masei The number forty-two, the number of journeys mentioned in this portion has many deep associations in Kabbalah (See Orchard of Delights on this portion). One of these associations is connected to Abraham. The prophet Isaiah exclaimed in God’s name: “But you, Israel My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, […]
Beginning and Completing a Mitzvah- Parshat Mattot
Parshat Mattot Along with the one-thousand soldiers from each of the tribes that Moses sent to fight the war with Midyan, he also sent Pinchas who had succeeded in stopping the plague that broke out as a result of Israel falling prey to the enticement of the women of Midian and Moav, as described the […]
Leadership and Humbleness- Parshat Pinchas
Parshat Pinchas After Balaam’s unsuccessful attempt to curse Israel he suggested that by luring Israel to sin they would in effect “curse” themselves. When the Moabite women enticed the Jewish men into a licentious scene, Zimri, the prince of the tribe of Simon, challenged Moses by publicly taking Cozbi, a Moabite princess, […]
Understanding Prophecy
Parshat Balak The portion of Balak recounts the attempt of Balak, the king of Moav, to hire the heathen prophet Balaam to curse the nation of Israel. Balak was terrified that his country would be overrun by Israel as they approached their entry into the Land of Israel. The portion tells the story of how […]
Understanding Prophecy- Parshat Balak
Parshat Balak The portion of Balak recounts the attempt of Balak, the king of Moav, to hire the heathen prophet Balaam to curse the nation of Israel. Balak was terrified that his country would be overrun by Israel as they approached their entry into the Land of Israel. The portion tells the story of how […]
Purifying Waters- Parshat Chukat
Parshat Chukat On Friday night we recite two times in our prayers and one time in kiddush, the sanctification of Shabbat on a cup of wine, the passage referred to as Vayachulu: “Now the heavens and the earth were completed and all their host. And God completed on the seventh day His work that [asher] […]
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 […]
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 […]