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”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”א בתמוז תשפ”ב
In this week’s portion Balaam is the main character but it is named after Balak. The reason for this is that while Balaam does most of the work, he does so at the behest of Balak. Balaam is simply a hired gun. The reason that Balak hates the Jews is simply he hates God centered morality.
פרשת חקת / ט’ בתמוז תשפ”ב
When the well that was following the Jews in the wilderness dried up after the death of Miriam the people complained that they had a better life in Egypt. What is amazing is that the people complaining were born after they left Egypt. They were totally taken care of by God. They did not have to earn their food. They were not grateful for all that God gave them.
פרשת חקת / ח’ בתמוז תשפ”ב
When Miriam died the well stopped giving water. The Jews were unaware that it was due to Miriam that they had water. It reminds us of all the people who are involved in supplying us with our daily needs.
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.