May their Memory be a Blessing
Two days ago, we learned the terrible news that the three kidnapped Israeli teens, Gilad Michael ben Ophir, Yaacov Naftali ben Avraham, and Eyal ben Uriel, were murdered by their captors. Many words have been written, and many more will be, about this awful event. But...
The Importance of Unity
At this writing, we are anxiously awaiting the rescue or release of the three boys kidnapped by terrorists, Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah, Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim, and Eyal ben Iris Teshurah. All over the world, Jews have set aside their differences to pray...
An Evil Report
In this week's reading we learn about the spies sent to look at the Land of Cana'an. As is clear from the consequences, their evil report, and the Children of Israel's reaction, became their greatest sin in all their time in the Sinai desert -- and it was initiated by...
Shared Glory
Upon the inauguration of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the leaders of each of the Tribes of Israel, the Nesi'im, brought gifts to be offered as sacrifices. We read the details of the gifts offered by each of the twelve, and immediately realize that the Ba'al Koreh, the...
Every Jew Counts!
This week we begin Bamidbar, the Book of Numbers. This, the fourth book of the Torah, acquired its Latin/English name because it begins with a count of the Children of Israel. This, though, is not the first such census -- we find repeated counts of the Jewish Nation...
A Gift of Love
My cousin's daughter is celebrating her Bas Mitzvah this weekend, and as they studied this week's reading in preparation, they came across one of the classic questions of Jewish philosophy: why do we do what we do? The parsha says that if we follow G-d's Laws, we will...
