In Style-Parshas Pinchas
The parshah opens up with words of praise for Pinchas, whose act of zealotry put an end to what had been Yisrael’s disgrace: וַיְדַבֵּר ד' אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר פִּינְחָס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן הֵשִׁיב אֶת־חֲמָתִי מֵעַל בְּנֵי־יִשְֹרָאֵל בְּקַנְאוֹ אֶת־קִנְאָתִי בְּתוֹכָם וְלֹא־כִלִּיתִי אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְֹרָאֵל בְּקִנְאָתִי – “And Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying: Pinchas the son of Elazar, son of Aharon the Kohein, has removed My wrath from B’nei Yisrael through his avenging My jealousy amongst them; [...]
When the Race is Over-Parshas Balak
The world is, and always has been, obsessed with the attainment of “kavod” – honor (i.e., glory and recognition). And while most people crave it and pursue it, the Torah’s outlook is just the opposite. The ideal, Chazal relate, is to recognize the fallacy of honor and to try to avoid it. As we shall see, the main character of this week’s parshah serves as the model for the [...]
Balancing Act-Parshas Chukas
Chazal offer an intriguing interpretation of a familiar passuk. Every day in Keri’as Shema we review the command bidding us to love Hashem and to dedicate ourselves to His service. As it states: וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ד' אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ – “You shall love Hashem your G-d with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your might” (Devarim 6:5). (Actually, each of these items [heart, soul, and might] [...]
