Parsha Matot-Masei – 5777
Parshat Matot-Masei In-Depth “Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes (30:2) This was the procedure with all the laws that Moses taught: first he would teach them to Aaron and the heads of the tribes, and then he would…
Parsha Pinchas – 5777
Parshat Pinchas In-Depth “Pinchas the son of Elazar the son of Aaron (Numbers 25:10) Why does G‑d refer to Pinchas as ‘the son of Elazar the son of Aaron’? Because the tribes of Israel were mocking him, saying, ‘Have you…
Parsha Balak – 5777
Parshat Balak In-Depth “Moab said to the elders of Midian (22:4) Moab and Midian were erstwhile enemies, as it is written (Genesis 36:35), ‘. . . who smote Midian in the field of Moab’; but out of fear of Israel,…
Parsha Chukat – 5777
Parshat Chukat In-Depth “In everything that G‑d taught Moses, He would tell him both the manner of contamination and the manner of purification. When G‑d came to the laws concerning one who comes in contact with a dead body, Moses…
Parsha Korach – 5777
Parshat Korach In-Depth “Korach . . . the son of Yitzhar, the son of Kehat, the son of Levi (16:1) What moved him to start a quarrel? He was moved to it by the fact that Elitzafan, the son of…
Parsha Sh’lach – 5777
Parshat Sh’lach In-Depth “Send out for yourself men (Numbers 13:2) ‘Send out for yourself’—as your mind dictates. I am not instructing you; if you so desire, send. For the people of Israel had come to Moses, saying ‘Let us send…
Parsha Beha’alotcha – 5777
Parshat Beha’alotcha In-Depth “Aaron did not bring an offering (for the Sanctuary’s dedication—see previous Parshah) with the other princes of the tribes, and so he thought: Woe is me! Perhaps it is on my account that G‑d does not accept…
Parsha Naso – 5777
Parshat Naso In-Depth “The priest shall write these oaths in a scroll, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water (5:23) Great is peace! To make peace between husband and wife, the Torah instructs that the name of…
Parsha Bamidbar – 5777
Parshat Bamidbar In-Depth “G‑d spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai (Numbers 1:1) The Torah was given to the people of Israel in the ownerless desert. For if it were given in the Land of Israel, the residents of…
Parsha Behar-Bechukotai – 5777
Parshat Behar-Bechukotai In-Depth “G‑d spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying . . . (Leviticus 25:1) What has the Sabbatical year to do with Mount Sinai? Were not all commandments given on Sinai? But the verse wishes to tell us:…