Bamidbar

Bamidbar: Dad’s Army ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas בַּמִדְבָּר Dad’s Army צַב: covered carriage, turtle צְבִי: deer, desire, splendor צָבָה: to swell צָבָא: army ה’ צְבָא-וֹת: Lord...

Nasso: Razor Sharp ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

When detailing the laws of the Nazirite, the Torah forbids him from cutting his hair by stating, “A razor (taar) shall not pass over his...

Nasso: A Crown is a Crown ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

A Crown is a Crown Malbim defines these three words by explaining the differences in their physical properties. He explains that an...

Nasso: The Greater the Responsibility, the Greater the Load ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas נָשֹׂא The Greater the Responsibility, the Greater the Load נָשֹׂא: raise, carry נָשִׂיא: prince מַשַׂא: burden, a load...

Behaalotacha: Pesach Sheni, Absent-Minded Passover? ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

This week's Torah portion discusses the highly unusual opportunity to fulfil a biblical precept -the Passover offering- who's...

Behaalotcha: Desiring a Desire ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

The Torah relates that not long after the Jews left Mount Sinai, the erev rav — who were the “mixed-multitudes” of Egyptians that joined...

Behaalotacha: A Variety of Enemies ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

The Torah mentions a special prayer which Moshe would say when the Ark of the Covenant would begin to travel (we say this prayer when...

Behaalotacha: Only The Poor Get Answered – Who Is Rich, Who Is Poor? ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Only the Poor Get Answered — Who Is Rich, Who Is Poor? עַנָוָה: humble עוֹנִי: affliction עֹנֶה: answer, testimony...

Shelach/Yom Kippur: Pardon Me? ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Shelach: Pardon Me? לע“נשלמהבנימיןבןרפאלתנצב“ה Three words are used to generally describe forgiveness and atonement: סליחה, מחילה, כפרה....

Shelach: Spy versus Spy ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Spy versus Spy Conventional linguists trace the origins of the English word “tourist” to the Old French word tourner (“to turn”)....

Shelach: If You Love Someone, Set Him Free ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas שְׁלַח If You Love Someone, Set Him Free שְׁלַח: send שֻׁלְחָן: table שְׁלַח: Send שְׁלַח לְךָ אֲנָשִׁים וְיָתֻרוּ אֶת אֶרֶץ...

Korach: Concomitant Connection and Chasm ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Following the start of Korach's mutiny, Moses told him to bring an incense offering, קטורת in Hebrew. Why was קטורת chosen as an...

Korach: The Land Down Under ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

The Land Down Under When relating the story of Korach and his household being miraculously swallowed into the ground, the Torah (Numbers...

Korach: Grave Questions, Grave Implications ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas קֹרַח Grave Questions, Grave Implications שׁוֹאֵל: borrow שָׁאוּל: King Shaul שְׁאֵלָה: question שְׁאוּל: grave וַיֵּרְדוּ הֵם...

Chukat: Settling on a Bite ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Following the Israelites' murmuring against the manna sent from heaven, God dispatched snakes to bite them. The word "נשיכה" appears only...

Chukat: Afraid of Fright or Ready to Fight? ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Afraid of Fright or Ready to Fight The social sciences like psychology and sociology seek to quantify man’s reactions to various types of...