Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
This week’s Parsha contains the second Tochachah (Admonition) found in the Torah. In the Tochachah , Moshe tells us the dire consequences that Klal Yisrael will face if we stray from our allegiance to Hashem and His Torah. Nevertheless, before uttering the fifty-four pesukim (verses) of admonition, Moshe delivered fourteen pesukim of bracha, of blessing, describing the…
Read More “Parshas Ki Savo – Walking the Cliff while Blindfolded?!” »
This week’s Parsha introduces us to a unique Mitzvah, called Yibum. When a married man dies childless, his brother is commanded to marry his dead brother’s wife. This is considered to be a great kindness in order to perpetuate his brother’s family line. The child born will spiritually be considered the deceased man’s child. If…
In this week’s Parsha we learn that if one solitary soldier feels fear or anxiety, he must be sent home (Devarim 20:8). We are afraid that he will lower the morale of his fellow soldiers and that his misgiving and apprehension will spread to other troops. The entire battalion may be weakened by one person’s…
In this week’s Parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu warned Bnei Yisrael about the spiritual trap of idolatry (Devarim 13:5). He then spoke about the prohibitions concerning false prophets and the necessity to maintain loyalty to Hashem. When the Torah commands us to follow Hashem, the term אַחַרי Acharei is used. The word Acharei (after), implies distance. A…
In this week’s Parsha the Torah commands us not to follow other G-ds and that Hashem is One (Devarim 8:19). The Medrash says that the word וְהָיָה, vehaya refers to joy. What joy could there possibly be in forgetting Hashem? The Kotzker Rebbe says a phenomenal thought: This verse can be understood by dividing these words…
In this week’s Parsha the Torah commands us Ve’nishmartem me’od lenafshoseychem – to guard our health (Devarim 4:15). I saw from Rav Zelig Plisken shlita that the Chofetz Chaim explains that by the word lenafshoseychem, the Torah uses the term nefesh, which refers to the soul and does not say guard your body. This teaches…
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…
Read More “Parshas Devarim – Tisha B’av: The King and the Suit” »
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…
