Siblings After Sinai-Parshas Beha’aloscha
(The following is based on an exposition in the sefer K’motzei Shalal Rav, parshas Beha’alosecha, p.169-170.) Tzara’as, as we know, is the skin-condition with which a person is afflicted on account of speaking lashon hara (forbidden gossip). The parshiyos of Tazria and Metzora (in Sefer Vayikra) deal with the numerous laws and details associated with this institution – the procedure for its identification, the state of ritual defilement it engenders, etc. But [...]
The Right Regard-Parshas Nasso
One of the many devices Chazal employ to interpret the Torah is the incidence of “Semichus Ha’parshiyos – Juxtaposition of Sections.” The arrangement of the various sections in the Torah is, of course, not haphazard; thus, Chazal derive laws and lessons of great significance by divining why one particular topic is situated next to another. Gifts and Jealousy There are a few prominent examples in this week’s parshah. One of [...]
More Than Just Skin Deep-Parshas Bamidbar
We are surrounded by a society that attaches much importance to externals. The person elected president of the United States is usually a cutting figure, fit and trim-looking, with a full head of hair, perfect teeth, and other such cosmetic qualities. It is hard to imagine someone with an outbreak of acne, for example, ever being able to secure such a position. This is because, as stated, [...]
