The Ultimate Cause of Exile
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The תלמוד ירושלמי , the Jerusalem Talmud, מסכת יומא , asks, “In the time of the second בית המקדש , Holy Temple, the populace were diligent in Torah study, they had wonderful character traits, they were careful to observe all the מצוות , commandments, and to meticulously tithe properly, […]
Parshas Matos-Masei
Print PDF By Rabbi Shimmy Sternfield ומקנה רב היה לבני ראובן ולבני גד עצום מאד (פרק ל”ב, פסוק א’) The children of Reuvein and Gad had abundant livestock- very great.. The Torah tells us, that the שבטים of ראובן and גד had a lot of livestock. Upon seeing that the land of סיחון and עוג […]
Impeccable Honesty
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In Chapter 32:1, the Torah introduces us to the discussion between Moshe Rabeinu, משה רבינו , and the tribes of Gad and Reuvain in the following manner: ומקנה רב היה לבני ראובן“ , And to the sons of Reuvain…” The question is, why does the Torah introduce the section […]
Parshas Pinchas
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum הנני נותן לו את בריתי שלום (פרק כה פסוק יב) Hashem promises His covenant of peace as renumeration for Pinchas’s zealousness in avenging His honor. The מדרש comments that it was proper and befitting for Pinchas to receive a reward for his good deed. Why did this action specifically […]
Leadership
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In שמות ו: כ”ה it states:”…ואלעזר בן אהרן לקח לו מבנות פוטיאל לו לאשה ותלד לו את פינחס” “And Ahron’s son Elazar took as his wife one of Putiel’s daughters, and she bore him Pinchos…” The רמב”ן, Nachmanides questions, why does the Torah mention Putiel- we don’t know who […]
Parshas Chukas-Balak
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum ויאמר ה’ אל משה אל תירא אותו (פרק כא פסוק לד) As the Jewish nation prepares for battle with Og and his nation, Bashan, Hashem encourages Moshe and tells him not to be afraid of them. Rashi explains (as expounded on by R’ Bachya) that Moshe certainly had no […]
Consistent Focus
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier בלעם, Bilaam, we are taught was gifted by Hashem with the extraordinary perception of the makeup of the spiritual world, of the upper spheres, a prophet on the same level as משה רבינו, Moshe, our leader. The פסוק says that no prophet will arise akin to Moshe Rabeinu amongst […]
Parshas Korach
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloime Lindenbaum כי כל העדה כלם קדושים (פרק טז פסוק ג) Our Parsha begins with the legendary argument between Moshe and Korach. Korach claims that Moshe took too much honor for himself and that he isn’t driven by truth but rather by selfishness. Specifically, Korach argues that all Jews are holy […]
A Delicate Balance
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier Superficially it seems that Korach was a terrible person, a distinguished individual who envied Moshe Rabbeinu’s exalted status. How is it possible that someone who witnessed the miracles that Moshe Rabbeinu brought, experienced his selfless dedication and above all knew that the Almighty had chosen him to be His […]
Parshas Shelach
Print PDF By Rabbi Shoime Lindenbaum שלח לך אנשים ויתרו את ארץ כנען (פרק יג פסוק ב) Our Parsha begins with the מרגלים (spies) scouting out ארץ ישראל (Israel) before the Jews entered to conquer it. They came back with a terrible report about the land which resulted in the Jews’ losing faith that Hashem […]