Category: Uncategorized

Pursued!

King Solomon writes in the book of Koheles, “G-d seeks out the pursued.” The Medrash explains this verse; whether a righteous person pursues a righteous or wicked one, or a wicked person pursues a righteous or wicked one – G-d seeks out the pursued. The Medrash continues by stating examples: Kain continually pursued Able, and …

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What Makes Us Tick!

In the beginning of the second millennium major tragedies occurred to the Jewish people. The first crusade began in the year 1095, and the second crusade was in the year 1147. Many Jews chose to be killed sanctifying G-d’s Name rather than converting to Christianity. However, some Jews buckled under the pressure and converted, and …

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Think it Through!

If one feels he was overlooked for a desired position, or he feels a lack of acknowledgment for something he did, and those feelings aren’t dealt with in a healthy way, the results may be disastrous. An example of this is in this week’s Parsha. Korach, a prestigious Levite and a cousin to Moshe and …

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Skewed Vision!

The Torah relates that as the Jews were on their journey towards the Land of Israel they requested that spies be sent to scout out the Land. 12 princes were chosen for the mission, one representing each of the tribes. Before they left, our leader Moshe gave them a list of instructions of what they …

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Rabble-Rousers!

The Torah relates that after the Jews spent a bit less than a year’s time at Mount Sinai, G-d indicated to them to begin their travels toward the Land of Israel. While the Jews encamped, they dwelled in a specific format based on their tribes. So too, they traveled in a detailed sequence. When they …

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Determined!

Yesterday was the 36th Yahrtzait of my maternal grandfather, Yehoshua Aaron Herzberg o.b.m. Fate had it that before and at the onset of WWII he was living in Paris and for a while was able to send food packages to his family back home in Warsaw, Poland. Sadly, all his eight siblings and their families …

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Payment! – Shavuos and its Meaning!

Traditionally, the Book of Ruth is read during the Holiday of Shavuos. There are a number of reasons offered. One reason is that King David was born and died on Shavuos, thus it is fittings that the Book of Ruth which provides us with the lineage of David, should be read. Another reason is so …

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Sleep!

The Torah teaches us what trust in G-d is all about. The Torah commands that in the Shemitta – Sabbatical year – a land owner in the Land of Israel must, in effect, relinquish ownership of his land every seventh year. He is forbidden to productively work the field and to conduct commerce with its …

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Out of Order!

The Parsha begins with special laws pertaining to Kohainim – priests. Kohanim, because of their distinction that they serve in the Temple, are commanded to maintain an extra level of purity. One of these laws is that they are forbidden to come in contact with a human corpse. Contact with a corpse would make a …

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Bounce it Around!

The Torah commands us to wave and offer an Omer measurement of newly harvested barley in the Temple in Jerusalem on the second day of Passover. The Torah prohibits us from eating grain from the new crop until this offering was performed; any grain that had taken root by this time became permitted. The Torah …

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