Ancient Connection – Modern Pioneers
This week’s parsha describes Moshe as being “the humblest of all people on the face of the earth.” This statement of the Torah is juxtaposed to the unique level of prophecy that Moshe experienced and is clearly intended as the reason for Moshe’s elevated status. How did Moshe, who had such great attributes and achievements, […]
After the Jewish people’s initial war against Amalek, Moshe declares that there will be an ongoing battle throughout the generations: “For a hand is on the throne of God, a war between God and Amalek from generation to generation.” While the second half of the verse clearly expresses an ongoing battle, what is the meaning […]
After the Torah teaches us the laws of dividing of the Land of Israel amongst the tribes and families, it reminds us that Moshe himself will not merit to enter the Land. God tells Moshe: Ascend these heights of Abarim and view the land that I have given to the Jewish people. When you have […]
Immediately before the dramatic story of Moshe hitting the rock, the Torah tells us that Miriam passed away. Chazal understand that these events are connected. The Jewish people received water in the desert due to the merit of Miriam and therefore when she was no longer living the well stopped providing water. This led the […]
This week’s parsha is brimming with case studies in monetary law. The Torah discusses the laws of damages, deposits, loans and other such cases. At first glance these laws might appear as a dull follow up to the Giving of the Torah at Sinai and the Ten Commandments. There, God himself appeared to the Jewish […]
Our parsha begins with a list of the names of the people who went down to Mitzrayim. While many of us are tempted to skip the names of the tribes and only begin to pay attention a few verses into the parsha, the Ba’al Shem Tov explains that the key to exile and redemption is […]
Commentators struggle to locate the root of the Jewish people’s precipitous fall from the heights of the Giving of the Torah to idol worship in the form of the Golden Calf. The Meshech Chochma suggests a powerful interpretation. He asserts that Judaism declares that sanctity stems solely from God and His Torah – nothing physical […]
