Parshat Eikev In-Depth “Because you hearken to these laws (Deuteronomy 7:12) The commentaries dwell on the Hebrew word eikev in this verse—an uncommon synonym for “because.” Many see a connection with the word akeiv (same spelling, different pronunciation), which means…
Parshat Vaetchanan In-Depth “I beseeched G‑d at that time (Deuteronomy 3:23) Prayer is called by ten names: cry, howl, groan, song, encounter, stricture, prostration, judgment and beseeching. [These synonyms for prayer are derived from: Exodus 2:23–24, Jeremiah 7:16, Psalms 18:6,…
Parshat Devarim In-Depth “These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on the other side of the Jordan, in the desert, in the Aravah, opposite Suf, between Paran and Tofel, and Lavan, and Chatzerot, and Di-Zahav (Deuteronomy 1:1)…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
