by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 29, 2016 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, G-d gives Pinchas His “Covenant of Peace.” He also makes Pinchas, Aharon’s grandson, part of the Kehunah, the priesthood. [As he was born prior to the anointing of Aharon and his sons, Pinchas did not become a Kohein...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 15, 2016 | Lifeline
This week’s Haftorah discusses Ammon coming to wage war with Israel. There was a man named Yiftach, who was the son of a concubine, rejected by his half-brothers. He had moved away, but was a natural leader — many gathered around him, though they were not...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 8, 2016 | Lifeline
This week’s reading begins with the rebellion led by Korach against Moshe’s leadership. The first half of the reading discusses the rebellion and what transpired afterwards, so clearly there is much to learn from this story. Korach sought honor and...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 1, 2016 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, we find the well-known account of the spies who went into the Land of Israel. The Jews knew that they were supposed to inherit the land; the job of the spies was to find the best way to enter. Are the people strong or weak? Are their...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jun 24, 2016 | Lifeline
The Torah describes Moshe in a startling way. It says that he was “more humble than any man” [Numbers 12:3]. First of all, we know that Moshe had a unique relationship with G-d. That should make a person proud of his accomplishments, proud to be selected...
