The Power of One
What can one person accomplish against a mob? This question is sadly relevant today, and this week's parsha (reading) provides the answer. At the end of last week's reading, after the evil prophet Bilaam failed to curse the Jews, he advised the Midianite King Balak to...
Deductions for Non-Prophets
“The Jewish people will never again have a prophet like Moses," says the Torah (Devarim 43:10). The Medrash notes that this verse is careful to say that “the Jewish people” will not have such a prophet. What about other nations? The Torah leaves open that possibility,...
Get Fascinated!
In the wake of Korach's rebellion in this week’s Torah portion, G-d instructs each tribe to place a wooden staff, labeled with its leader’s name, in the holiest chamber of the Tabernacle. G-d promised a sign to confirm the appointment of Aaron as the High Priest,...
Listen for Your Prophecy
Many years ago, a young man was suggested to a family looking to find a good match for their daughter. He was scholarly, well-mannered, and had a great future ahead of him. The young lady’s family seriously considered introducing her to the young man, until her mother...
Always on the Move
How did the Jewish people navigate their way through the desert? They didn’t have the Waze app, but they had their own form of GPS - a G-d Positioning System. G-d surrounded them with clouds called the Ananei HaKavod - the "Clouds of Honor” throughout their journey....
Beloved Broken Records
Are you old enough to remember vinyl records? Do you remember how a scratched record could skip backwards, repeating a section over and over? The casual listener to the reading of this week’s Torah portion might be reminded of that broken record. The Baal Korei (the...
Strength in Numbers
This Shabbos we will read the first words of Bamidbar, the Book of Numbers. Then, on Sunday night, we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuos, the time of the giving of the Torah. The holiday is called Shavuos in the Torah, literally "weeks," as the Torah commands us to...
Everything According to His Will
The second of our two readings this week is Bechukosai: "If you will go in my decrees, and guard my commandments, and do them" [Lev. 26:3]. A decree is something that government, or in this case HaShem [G-d] in the Torah, tells us to do, which we are unlikely to...
The Day the Tears Dry
The current period on the Jewish calendar, the weeks between Passover and Shavuos, are called the “Y'mei Sefirah,” days of of counting. The Omer, the annual grain offering, was brought on the second day of Passover in the Holy Temple. Starting from that day, the Torah...
Mitzvah Impossible
“Don’t take revenge, don’t bear a grudge, love your friend like yourself, I am G-d. (Lev. 19:18)” These words are among the most well known Commandments in the Torah. Their simplicity and truth have resonated with people for thousands of years. Yet these Mitzvos,...
The Stain is Noticeable
This week's Torah portion describes a person infected with a Negah - a blemish, which might infect his skin, his clothing, or even the walls of his house. So it is immediately obvious that the "infection" the Torah is describing was a spiritual illness, not medical. A...
Matzah Motivators
Passover preparations are underway, and many households are already cleaning out rooms, looking for Chometz. “Chometz” is any product of wheat, barley, rye, oats or spelt which was allowed to rise, including bread, cookies, cakes & crackers. During the Passover...
