Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 34

July 1, 2023; 12 Tamuz, 5783

Parsha The first Possuk in Parshas Chukas (BaMidbar19:2) introduces the Mitzvah of Parah Adumah (red heifer) whose ashes are used to purify one who has become impure. This Mitzvah is puzzling because even though the Parah Adumah’s ashes make the one that is impure, pure; it makes the one who is preparing the ashes to be used, impure. The Torah tells us that this Mitzvah is a “Chok” which is a commandment of the Torah that we must observe whether we understand it or not.

The Torah introduces the Mitzvah of the Parah Adumah with the words, “Zos Chukas HaTorah” – this is the Chok of the Torah. There is a debate between the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh and the Akeidas Yitzchok as to what these words are referring to....

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 33

June 24, 2023; 5 Tamuz, 5783

Parsha In this week’s Parsha, Korach led a rebellion against the leadership of Moshe Rabbeinu. The Gemorah in Sanhedrin 109b indicates that Ohn Ben Peles (“Ohn”), who was initially mentioned among those that Korach gathered for his rebellion, was a man of high intellect and of great moral fiber. The Daas Zekainim miBaalei HaTosfos (“Daas Zekanim”) makes the same point in his explanation of the first Possuk (verse) of this week’s Parsha. The Possuk says that Ohn came from the tribe of Reuvain. In a play on words of the name “Reuvain”, the Daas Zekanim says that he was a “Ra’ah V’Haveen” – he saw and understood – i.e. he was a man of great intellect.

That being the case, how could such a highly intelligent individual make such a monumental mistake by joining Korach and his rebellion?...

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 32

June 17, 2023; 28 Sivan, 5783

Parsha In this week’s Parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu agrees to send spies into Eretz Yisrael (Israel) to scout out the land. These spies were the greatest men among the nation, as Rashi points out. And yet, despite being the righteous people that they were, they still returned from their mission with a very negative report about Eretz Yisrael.

The Midrash Rabbah (16:11) points out that there were two sins that the spies committed when they relayed their negative report to Bnei Yisrael (the Jews). They declared:

“And there we saw the Nephilim, the giant sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes.” (BaMidbar 13:33)...

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