Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
Parshas Devarim is read on the Shabbos before Tishah B’Av, known as Shabbos Chazon, because its haftorah (Yeshayahu 1:1-1:27) begins with the words, “Chazon Yeshayahu — The vision of Yeshayahu.” On Shabbos Chazon, we contemplate the meaning of Tishah B’Av, the Ninth of Av. Rav Yechiel Spero shlita writes: Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev has…
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The Midianites caused the Jews in the desert to sin and act immorally. Hashem commanded Moshe to punish the Midianites for their terrible behavior. Hashem commands Moshe “Nakom Nikmas Bnei Yisrael” – to avenge the glory of the Jewish nation against Midyan (31:2). Yet when Moshe conveys the charge to the Bnei Yisrael he says “Nikmas Hashem” –…
The total population of the tribe of Binyamin was forty-five thousand six hundred. The tribe of Dan’s population was sixty-four thousand four hundred. Rav Zelig Plisken shlita writes: The Chofetz Chaim explains why those numbers are so remarkable: Binyamin had ten sons, while his brother Dan had only one son, named Chushim. Chushim was handicapped;…
In this week’s Parsha we learn the story about Bilam and his donkey. Our sages teach us that Hashem killed Bilam’s donkey to spare Bilam from embarrassment, as Rashi comments (22:33): So that [people] should not say, “This is the one that dismissed Bilam with its rebuke, and he was not able to respond,” for…
“The earth beneath them opened its mouth …” (Bamidbar 16:32) In this week’s Parsha we learn the story of Korach. Korach was the leader of a machlokes, a rebellion against Moshe and his brother Aharon, during the journey of the Jews from Egypt to the Land of Israel. As a punishment for his rebellion and fighting,…
“You shall see…” (Bamidbar 13:18 – 15:39) In the beginning of this week’s Parsha, when speaking about the spies who spied out on the land, the pasuk says U’ree’sem (13:18), and you shall see (the land). Interestingly, the same exact word is mentioned later, at the end of the Parsha, in reference to seeing the Tzitzis (15:39)….
“Aharon did so…” (Bamidbar 8:3) Hashem commanded Moshe to instruct Aharon to light the Menorah. The Torah then states: “Aharon did so… As Hashem commanded Moshe.” On this pasuk Rashi comments: “This is to tell the praise of Aharon that he did not change.” The Torah praises Aharon for not acting differently from Hashem’s instructions….
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“Hashem spoke to Moshe saying…” (Bamidbar 5:11– 6:1) In Sichos Rav Nosson Tzvi, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l explains: The Gemara teaches: “The topic of Nazir was juxtaposed with the topic of Sotah (a suspected adulteress), to teach that one who sees a Sotah at the time of her disgrace should abstain from wine” (Sotah…
Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l would recount the following story: The Chasam Sofer headed a prestigious yeshivah in the city of Pressburg. One day, a young man knocked at his door and said that he wanted to join the yeshivah. “What topics are you prepared to be tested on?” The Chasam Sofer asked him. The young…
“And then the sons of Kehath should come to carry…” (Bamidbar 4:15) The Gemara (Sotah 35a) teaches us that the holy Ark was in reality not borne by others: It supported its bearers. The Pasuk (above) teaches that the sons of Kehath came to carry the Ark, but in reality, they were carried by it….
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