A Delicate Balance
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In פרקי אבות, Ethics of our Fathers 5:17, it states: “What is an example of an argument that is for the ‘sake of Heaven’, for selfless spiritual advancements, the halachic disputes between Bais Hillel and Bais Shammai.” The case of a dispute that represents self-interests is this week’s portion, […]
It’s Solely G-d’s World
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The episode of the מרגלים, the twelve “spies” sent by משה רבינו to scout the land of present-day Israel is fraught with many perplexing questions. They are introduced by the Torah as, “ראשי בני ישראל המה” (יג:ג) , “כולם אנשים “they are all distinguished people, the leaders of the […]
Parshas Shelach
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum היש בה עץ אם אין…ולקחתם מפרי הארץ (פרק יג פסוק כ) Moshe sends the spies to scout out the land of Israel and instructs them to see if there is a tree and to bring fruit from the land. Rashi explains that the tree symbolizes a good and proper […]
The Path to Achievement
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier Prior to the giving of the Torah to Klal Yisroel at Mt. Sinai, all those that had an infirmity, i.e. lame, deaf, blind, were miraculously healed by the Creator. There is a discussion at what point was the gift taken away; was it at the incident of the Golden […]
Parshas Behaalosecha
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אל נא תעזב אתנו…והיית לנו לעינים (פרק י פסוק לא) The Torah describes how Yisro, Moshe’s father-in-law, wanted to leave the Jews in the desert and return to his homeland, and Moshe tried, unsuccessfully, to get him to stay. Moshe asked him, “please do not leave us… as you […]
Parshas Naso
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum ועשה הכהן אחד לחטאת…מאשר חטא על הנפש (פרק ו פסוק יא) When a person decides to be a נזיר they are not allowed to drink wine, cut their hair, or become impure by coming into contact with a dead person. If there is an uncontrollable situation in which they […]
Life Lessons from the Nazir
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In this week’s portion, we are introduced to the נזיר, Nazirite, a person who dedicates themselves to elevating their spiritual sensitivity and steadfastness. Chazal teach us that the Torah equates this period of one’s life to the lofty status of the כהן גדול, the High Priest! The גמרא נדרים […]
The Essence of Torah: Chesed | Shavuos
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The Medrash Rus, רות רבה ב:טו , says, “ ,אמר רב זעירא (this מגילה scroll has no mention of what is prohibited, what is permitted…) it is written to teach us the ‘great reward for those who are involved in kindness.’” Another Medrash, ילקוט רות תקצ”ד , teaches: we […]
Parshas Bamidbar
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אך את מטה לוי לא תפקד וגו’ בתוך בני ישראל (פרק א פסוק מט) Hashem commands Moshe to count the entire Jewish nation but specifies that Levi should have their own separate counting. This is reiterated two more times, emphasizing that the Levites should not be included in the […]
Orderliness
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The Torah in this week’s portion details at great length the census of the Jewish people; how many were in each tribe. In the second chapter, the Torah commands how the Jewish people encamped around the משכן, Tabernacle. There were four divisions in each direction, comprising of three tribes. […]
