פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ה בתמוז תשפ”ב
When going to Jerusalem there were no directional signs. We want people to stop and ask directions. When going to a city of Refuge there were directional signs. We know that the person running to them is in a hurry and cannot wait.
פרשת פנחס / כ”ג בתמוז תשפ”ב
When the daughters of Zelaphad approached Moses about their inheritance rights he asked them to wait for an answer. He knew that the decision would be the basis of decisions for the future. In the case of Pinchas he could not wait, he had to take action immediately to prevent a clear and present danger. A true leader has to realize what is an emergency and what is not.
פרשת פנחס / כ”א בתמוז תשפ”ב
In this week’s portion we learn the difference between real leadership and a leader that follows the crowd. Pinchas was not yet chosen to be leader but had a moral compass. Zimri had inherited his position as leader of the Tribe of Shimon and had no moral compass. Zimri thought he could get away with violating the law flagrantly due to his family’s influence. He was mistaken and paid with his life.
פרשת פנחס / כ’בתמוז תשפ”ב
Moses has to find the next leader of the Jewish people in this week’s Portion. He chooses Joshua. The thinking is that Joshua knows how to speak to the people and how to make hard decisions, which is one of the qualifications of a leader. You can’t always be popular.
פרשת פנחס / י”ט בתנוז תשפ”ב
The Portion starts out with Pinchas receiving the blessing of peace. The reason is that he had just killed Zimri and Koziba. Even though they deserved to die and Pinchas was justified in doing so, he was disturbed by his action. Taking a life is a serious matter even when justified.
פרשת בלק / ט”ז בתמוז תשפ”ב
When he realizes that cursing the Jews from the outside will not work so long as the Jews are moral, Balak sends women into the camp to make the Jew immoral. The plan works. Zimri carries out his immorality in full view of the people. This was the downfall.
פרשת בלק / ט”ו בתמוז תשפ”ב
When Bilaam states that the Jews are a people that dwell alone he means that due to their morality and ethical behavior that will not find many others who would join them. When everyone else is immoral then the moral person finds himself alone.
פרשת בלק / י”ד בתמוז תשפ”ב
When Balaam has an argument with his donkey, he misses the main point. The donkey is speaking to him. It is a classic case of the march of folly. That is following a disastrous path even when you know it will end in disaster.
פרשת בלק / י”ג בתמוז תשפ”ב
One of the observations of Balaam was how the tents of the Jews in the wilderness were set up so that one could not see into another. The entrances were adjusted for this purpose. The Torah is teaching us that we must respect each other’s privacy.
פרשת בלק / י”ב בתמוז תשפ”ב
Balaam is warned at the very beginning of this week’s portion that his attempt to curse the Jewish people is doomed to failure by no less than God. Yet he persists in the project. Why? He could not admit that he made a mistake in accepting this job.