פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ז תמוז תשפ”ב
After the initial retaliation against Midian Moses reprimands the Jewish officers for allowing the women to live. To understand this, we have to remember that the women were willing participants in the sins committed by the Jewish men that led to the war. That is why they had to be punished like the men.
פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ו בתמוז תשפ”ב
The reason that the Jews were commanded to destroy Midian was because Midian had declared war on God and morality. Personal insults are one thing. Insulting God and morality are another.
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 חקת / ו’ בתמוז תשפ”ב
One of the lessons of this week’s Portion is that Aaron, Miriam and Moses prepared the leadership to come after them. Do not assume that they will learn by osmosis. They need to be educated both in knowledge and in spirit.
פרשת חקת / ה’ בתמוז תשפ”ב
When the Vilna Gaon (d. 1797) read the American Constitution, he was convinced that the redemption was beginning. Article 6 states that there be no religious test to hold office in the US. This meant that Jews were full and equal citizens of the country. This was unheard of before then. The Zionist movement can be traced to the Vilna Gaon’s understanding of US Constitution.
פרשת חוקה / ד’ בתמוז תשפ”ב
The Hebrew translation of the name of the US does not translate as “the United States” but as The Lands of the Agreement”. Hebrew is the only language that translates the US in this way. It is a recognition the US is not just another country but unique in the world with a special mission.
פרשת קרח / כ”ט בסיון תשפ”ב
On the face of it Korach seems to have a valid complaint. The truth is that it breaks down when we really look at it. This is the very common among those who seek power for the sake of power. They use democracy to bring their dictatorship.
פרשת קרח / כ”ח בסיון תשפ”ב
The Mishna in Pirkei Avot mentions the difference between a disagreement for the sake of Heaven and for personal ego is the dispute between Shammai & Hillel, for the sake of Heaven, and Korach and his congregation for ego. The difference is that if the dispute is for the sake of Heaven, then they might disagree, but they did not look on their opponents as enemies. Korach and his congregation looked on their opponents as evil.
פרשת קרח / כ”ז בסיון תשפ”ב
Korach led a rebellion against Moses based on “equality”. Why should Moses be the leader over all of the Jews? Aren’t we all equal? The answer is that Moses became Moses because he worked on himself. He was not born into leadership. He earned it.
פרשת בהעלותך / י”ח בסיון תשפ”ב
The Complainers are back again in this week’s portion. They will continue to plague Moses throughout the Exodus. The question is what they were really complaining about. The limits that the Torah places on us. That we cannot do whatever we want in society.