Rav Zachariash’s weekly blog on the parsha
“Yiftach said to the elders of Gilad, ‘[Very well,] if you bring me back to fight the Ammonites and G-D delivers them to me, I am to be your commander.’” (Judges 11:9) When facing an exam, people don’t just cram or pull “all-nighters”. Many also try to build their self-confidence. They become convinced that with [...]
AND KORAH CONVENED [ALL THE CONGREGATION] AGAINST THEM, by means of scoffing language: that whole night he went round to all the tribes and tried to win them over: “Do you really think that I care for myself alone? It is only for all of you that I have a care! These men come and [...]
“…that you may look upon it…” (Bamidbar 15:39) I was having a discussion with someone from the shul this week and the conversation turned to a common human tendency: when things go wrong, we immediately notice and complain. Yet when things go right, we often take them for granted, assuming that is how it is [...]
“And Moses himself was very humble, more so than any other human being on earth.” (Bamidbar 12:3) How could Moshe Rabeinu write in the Torah, about himself, that he was the most humble of men? Isn’t that the very opposite of humility? On Shavuos, we celebrated Kabalas Tatorah. Rav Yosef (Gemara Pesachim 68b) said, “If [...]
“And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks…” (Shemos 34:22) The Yom Tov of Pesach is named “Pesach” for the korbon Pesach. Sukkos is named “Sukkos” for the mitzvah of sukkah. But the name “Shavuos” seems, at first glance, to have little connection to the Torah, the bikurim, or the two loaves of bread which [...]
"and they shall put on it the covering of taĥash skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in its poles." (Bamidbar 4:6) The torah tells us that all the utensils in the Mishkan were wrapped with techeles on the inside and or tachash on the outside. The only [...]
“And I will turn towards you…” (Vayikra 26:9) “And I will set my face against you…” (Vayikra 26:17) One of the greatest gifts that a person can receive is spare time. It grants us the precious opportunity to “freelance” in our avodas Hashem. The Chiddushei Harim (Yitzchak Meir Rotenberg-Alter 1799-1866) offers an explanation of the [...]
“…(Bo moom) that has a blemish…(moom bo) he has a blemish” (Vayikra 21:17,21) People are well aware that the Chofetz Chaim lived to a ripe old age (well into his 90’s) and that he held a birthday celebration on his 80th birthday. When asked why he was celebrating, he explained that because he had been [...]
Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisrael, and say to them, “You shall be holy: for I the Lord your G-d am holy.” (Vayikra 19:2) Why was it necessary to gather klal Yisrael together just to hear this statement? What makes this parsha so important that it had to be said specifically [...]
This is analogous to a noblewoman who entered the king’s palace. When she saw the whips hanging, she was afraid. The king said to her: ‘Fear not, those are for the slaves and the maidservants, but you will eat, drink, and rejoice.’ When Israel heard the Torah portion dealing with tzara’as, they were afraid. Moses [...]
