The Natural Conclusion
"The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s trough: but Yisrael does not know, my people does not consider." (Isaiah 1:3) In this week’s Haftara we find the prophet complaining that though donkey may know his trough, Klal Yisrael doesn’t know Hashem. The Baalei Mussar ask, how is [...]
Where Are Your Thoughts?
And Moshe was angry with the officers, the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, who came from the battle. (Bamidbar 31:14) The particular war with Midyan was waged to avenge those who caused klal Yisrael to sin with immorality. Klal Yisrael understood they had sinned, they repented, and then [...]
Long Term Effects
“and he shall have it, and his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Yisra᾽el.” (Bamidbar 25:13) The Torah tells us that Pinchas was given the kahuna as a reward for killing Kozbi. The [...]
Our Essence / Their Essence
“And Yisrael joined himself to Ba’al Peor, and the anger of Hashem was kindled against Yisrael.” (Bamidbar 25:3) In general, we understand that all people have challenges. We assume the righteous are those who have overcome their challenges and the wicked ones are those who have failed, but our assumptions [...]
Setting A-Tone-Ment
“…and Miriam died there, and was buried there.” (Bamidbar 20:1) RASHI: AND MIRIAM DIED THERE — Why is the section narrating the death of Miriam placed immediately after the section dealing with the red cow? To suggest to you the following comparison: What is the purpose of the sacrifices? They [...]
Better Flight Than Fight
Every dispute that is for the sake of Heaven, will in the end endure; But one that is not for the sake of Heaven, will not endure…And which is the controversy that is not for the sake of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Korah and all his congregation. (Avos [...]
In G-d We Trust
“But do not rebel against Hashem! You should not fear the people of the land, for they are our bread. Their protection has departed from them; Hashem is with us. Do not fear them!” (Bamidbar 14:9) Kaleiv got Klal Yisrael’s attention in order to calm them down. He tried to [...]
The Good Old Days
“We remember the fish that we used to eat for free in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.” (Bamidbar 11:5) Rav Zalman Sorotzkin (1881–1966) asks a question that has been bothering me for many years. I found his answer spot on. Even though I [...]
The Longer, the Better
Shavuos is a very short holiday. Even for those who stay up all night, it still seems to disappear in the blink of an eye. When any holiday finishes, we can fall into a “postpartum depression” as we to try to hold onto that yom tov and apply what we [...]
Non-Sense
There are two interesting questions about the Yom Tov of Shavuos that set it apart from the other Yomim Tovim. First, there is no particular mitzvah or commandment to be done on this Yom Tov (unlike Rosh Hashanah which has Shofar, Pesach which has Matzah, or Sukkos which has Sukkah [...]
One For All And All For One
Currently, it seems that everyone is declaring, “Let’s be together!” At the same time everyone is saying, “My way is right!” This is not a new phenomenon but has been going on since time immemorial. What is the key to success in allowing everyone to express their ideas and have [...]
Tapping Into Yourself
“…and the trees of the field will yield fruit.” (Vayikra 26:4) RASHI: This refers to the non-fruit producing trees; and even these will bear fruits in future (Sifra, Bechukosai, Chapter 1 6). Nowadays, medical professionals, with all kinds of statistics, are constantly telling us what we can expect and what [...]
Brotherly Love
“If your brother, being in straits…do not exact advance or accrued interest…” (Vayikra 25:35-36) There was an avreich, Reuven, who was very handy. His neighbor Shimon was a Talmid chacham, but with two left hands. Shimon had a plumbing problem for which it would cost him a large amount of [...]
Spiritual Pursuits
“On the first day you shall take…” (Vayikra 23:40) Chazal (Medrash Tanchuma Emor 23) tell us that the word “Rishon” is used because this is the first day that our sins get computed. People are busy between Yom Kippur and Sukkos doing mitzvos, and therefore no sins are being committed [...]
Holy Service With a Smile
“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisrael, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I am holy.” (Vayikra 19:2) The generally accepted meaning of being “holy” is to separate oneself, as it seems from the Ramban at first glance. The following question is asked, “If [...]
Awe-Full
“Hashem spoke to Moshe after the death of the two sons of Aharon, when they came near before the Lord, and died.” (Vayikra 16:1) There are many different explanations offered as to what exactly were the sins of the sons of Aharon. The Yismach Moshe (Moshe Teitelbaum, 1759 –1841), offers [...]
The Next Step
Next year in Jerusalem (the Hagadah) On Seder night we split “Hallel” into two parts. The first part is said during magid and the second part is said after birkas hamazon. What is the reason that we say Hallel in two parts instead of saying it all together?! The Levush [...]
Have a Great Shabbos!
“The custom is that at Mincha (on the Shabbos before Pesach) we read the Haggadah from Avadim Hayinu until Lichaper…” (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 430:1) This Shabbos is called “Shabbos Hagadol”, as it refers to that special Shabbos that preceded the Exodus from Egypt. On that day, Klal Yisrael were [...]