Rav Zachariash’s weekly blog on the parsha
“…and it shall be to you as a fringe, that you may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them…” (Bamidbar 15:39) At the end of the Parsha it discusses the mitzvah of tzitzis. It is clear from the Torah itself that tzitzis serve as a reminder of Hashem’s [...]
“And Miriam was shut out from the camp for seven days: and the people did not journey until Miriam was brought in again.” (Bamidbar 12:15) In our everyday experiences, we encounter a mix of positive and negative events. Many of us reflect on these occurrences, trying to determine if Hashem has been pleased with our [...]
“He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the crown of his God is upon his head.” (Bamidbar 6:7) There are many different ways of approaching challenges, and especially as to how to use these challenges to further one’s [...]
As we know, Shavuos is the time that we celebrate receiving the Torah. The luchos habris were the physical expression of our bond with Hashem. However, that original article of our connection was destroyed by Moshe Rabbeinu shortly thereafter. It took us a few months to receive a second set. The Shelah HaKaddosh (Rabbi Yeshayahu [...]
“Count the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou count them.” (Bamidbar 3:15) I was once driving past a public school in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and the children recognized me as a Jew and began shouting all [...]
“…and I have broken the bars of your yoke, and I will have you walk upright.” (Vayikra 26:13) Rashi: קוממיות means erect in one’s posture (in contrast to the bent position of a person who is under a yoke) (Sifra, Bechukotai, Chapter 3 7). What is Rashi teaching by telling us that you will have [...]
“Speak to the children of Yisroel, and say to them, the festivals of Hashem…Six days shall work be done: on the seventh day is the Sabbath of solemn rest…” (Vayikra 23:2-3) In general, when we think about Shabbos, we understand its importance as a “wellspring of kedusha” for the rest of the week. But how [...]
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord. (Vayikra 19:18) The Mesilas Yesharim writes (11:78): The sins of hatred and revenge, as well, are very difficult for the deluded heart of human beings to avoid. For a [...]
“When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a white pot, scab, or bright spot…” (Vayikra 13:2) The Torah uses the expression “Adam Ki” in three places. Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dunner (1913-2007) explains the usage of this expression in each of these situations: In Parshas Vayikra (1:2) “אָדָם כִּי־יַקְרִיב מִכֶּם קָרְבָּן לַה'” [...]
And every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth shall be held abominable; it shall not be eaten. (Vayikra 11:41) At the end of the Parsha, the Torah speaks about us not eating insects, cockroaches, creepy-crawling creatures. Rashi quotes the Tana Divei Rebbe Yishmael, who says that if it wouldn’t be for anything else, just [...]
