Song to G-d
In the beginning of the Torah section of Eikev, Moses reminds us of “The great tests that your eyes saw, and the signs, the wonders, the strong hand, and the outstretched arm with which the L-rd, your G-d, took you out [of Egypt]” (Devarim 7:19). Indeed, after one of the most famous of these miracles, […]
Marriage Made in Heaven
Introducing his repetition of the Ten Commandments in the Torah section of VaEtchanan, Moses tells us, “Face to face did G-d speak with you on the mountain,” (Devarim 5:4), a verse that might remind us of the first verse of the Torah section of Bamidbar, “And G-d spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai.” Commenting […]
Respecting Another’s Feelings
The first words of the Torah section of Devarim are: “These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel, across the Jordan, in the wilderness, in the Plain, opposite [the Sea of] Reeds, between Paran and Tophel and Lavan, and Chatzerot and Di-Zahav.” Upon this verse, Rashi comments: “Because they are words of rebuke, […]
Proper Proportions
The Torah section of Matot encompasses three sub-sections: G-d’s precepts and regulations concerning vows (Bamidbar 30:2-17), G-d’s instructing the children of Israel to avenge themselves against the Midianites (Bamidbar 31:1-54) and the special agreement reached with the tribes of Reuven and Gad in light of their “abundant livestock” (Bamidbar 32:1-42). In the course of discussing […]
Like a Fig Tree
In the Torah section of Pinchas, G-d chooses Joshua, Moses’ devoted student who “would not depart from within the tent” (Sh’mot 33:11), always at Moses’ side, thirstily imbibing every word of his and waiting patiently for forty days at the foot of Mount Sinai until his teacher returned from accepting the Torah, to succeed Moses […]
How Goodly are Your Tents
As one of his forced forms of recognition of the positive nature of the children of Israel, Bilam remarks in the Torah section of Balak (Bamidbar 24:5), “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.” In commenting on this verse (Daniel Yaakov Travis, A Voice in the Darkness, pp. 251-252), R. Moshe Sternbuch […]
Impossible to Fathom
The Torah section of Chukat begins with a description of the law of the red heifer that is to be brought in the event of one’s coming in contact with a corpse. In Kohelet Rabbah 7:23, we are informed that the wise King Solomon attempted to understand the reason for this law but was unsuccessful, concluding that […]
The Lion and the Fox
In a letter to his students (Mikhtav M’Eliyahu, pp. 304 – 306), the venerated mashgiach of Yeshivat Ponovezh (1892 – 1953), R. Eliyahu Dessler makes a noteworthy comment on the Torah section of Korach. In introducing his comment, R. Dessler cites a parable mentioned by R. Hai Gaon in his responsa (13): “There is a parable about a […]
Power of a Woman
In the beginning of the Torah section of Shlach, Moses changes the name of his faithful student, destined to bring the People of Israel into the Land of Israel, Hoshea Bin Nun to Yehoshua (Bamidbar 13:16). Our Sages explain that Moses did this with the wish that “May G-d save you from the counsel of […]
Tolerance of Difference
Towards the end of the Torah section of Beha’alotkha, after Miriam, with her brother Aaron’s consent, spoke disparagingly about Moses for distancing himself from his wife Tziporah, G-d rebukes them saying (Bamidbar 12:8), “Why did you not fear to speak about My servant, about Moses?” In his commentary on this verse, Rashi explains that G-d […]