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Weekly Torah
“A tongue can accuse or carry bad news.” Hank Williams sure said a mouthful with those lines. In truth, it was lashon hara – an evil tongue – which put Israel in exile and which kept Israel in the wilderness forty years. But on the flip side, our words, our vows, our oaths and our pledges, if uttered and honored with the proper respect and trust in HaShem, can lead us back to the promised land of Israel.
Matot (Numbers 30:2-32:42)
Parashat Matot is read on Shabbat:
Tammuz 21, 5771/July 23, 2011
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Many people today recast G-d and His Torah in their own image, according to their own criteria of how life should be. Pinchas was zealous for G-d’s honor, and that life should be lived as He has prescribed it. For his devotion to G-d’s honor, G-d honored Pinchas in return with His covenant of peace.
Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1)
Parashat Pinchas is read on Shabbat:
Tammuz 14, 5771/July 16, 2011
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“There is nothing new under the sun,” and that goes for the “new” antisemitism, and the “international community’s” exasperation with Israel’s obsession with such petty issues as sovereignty, security, viability and her continued existence as a free and independent people in their own land. Many years ago the long-time enemies of Moav, (led by Balak ) and Midian, (represented by Bilaam ), joined forces to try to erase their mutual enemy Israel. The urbane and cosmopolitan Bilaam was called in to put a politically correct face on the viciously antisemitic diatribe they were espousing.
Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9)
Parashat Balak is read on Shabbat:
Tammuz 7, 5771/July 9, 2011
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Going through all these things twice: The generation of the desert, like Adam, the first man, failed to appreciate the gifts that G-d gives us. Adam blamed the woman G-d gave him for his own eating of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, and the Israelites in the desert complained about the spiritually refined nourishment known as manna, with which G-d kept them fed for forty years. Is it any wonder that the evil-tongued snake made an appearance in both cases, here being used by G-d as an instrument to exact from Israel a price for their flagrant disregard?
Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1)
Parashat Chukat is read on Shabbat:
Sivan 30, 5771/July 2, 2011
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What is the meaning of the Torah’s reference to the mysterious “covenant of salt?” (Numbers 17:19) Salt can be lifeless and deadly. It can also preserve, enhance and provide nourishment. Each one of us has within us an aspect of salt, the potential for lifelessness and the potential to enhance and increase life, thereby forging our own “covenant of salt” with G-d.
Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32)
Parashat Korach is read on Shabbat:
Sivan 23, 5771/June 25, 2011
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Heaven – or at least, the Garden of Eden, in its earthly embodiment in the land of Israel – awaits the generation of the desert. All they need to do is pack their gear and step inside. From whence the spiritual negativity that drove them from “heaven’s” door even as they were perched to enter? Their great failing remains for our generation to overcome and to correct. G-d, despite His great anger at their disregard for the land, blesses them with the commandments concerning the wine libations and the taking of challah, both of which are contingent on being in the land of Israel. In this manner
G-d both comforts them that their children will someday enter the land, and instructs them once in the land of Israel, their Divine mission will be the rectification of the failing of Adam, the first man.
Shelach (Numbers 13:1-15:41)
Parashat Shelach is read on Shabbat:
Sivan 16, 5771/June 18, 2011
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Israel’s desert experience, as described throughout the book of Numbers, is a reality created by G-d in which He tends to their every need, but at the same time teaches them how to take responsibility for themselves as individuals and also as a nation. When they shy away or shirk their responsibility, G-d rebukes them. In this manner they are being prepared to enter into the land of Israel where they will assume their role in bringing the entire world closer to G-d and His Torah.
Beha’alotcha (Numbers 8:1-12:16)
Parashat Beha’alotcha is read on Shabbat:
Sivan 9, 5771/June 11, 2011
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