The Implications and Consequences of Expulsion for the Jewish People
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[Three Years Later in Lebanon] UNIFIL Finds 20 Katyushas Ready for Launch, by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Palestinians Fire on IDF Troops at Gaza Border [Nahal Oz Fuel Depot]
Terrorists Fire Kassam at Israel [Falls South of Karni Border Crossing]
IDF Captures 21 Palestinians Trying to Infiltrate Jerusalem in Trunk of Bus
Israeli [Radio] Station Accused of Supporting Terrorism, by Maayana Miskin (Israel National News)
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Commentary;
Do we do a factor of 10 as to how many acts of war are going unreported (i.e. military censored) based on the number actually reported? MB
IDF Forces Attacked [by Terrorist Mortar Shells] Near Kissufim
IDF Neutralizes Four Explosives Near Kissufim Fence
Arabs Stone Jewish Car South of Hevron
IDF Still Fighting Terrorists in Yesha [12 Nabbed in Operations in Bethlehem, Hevron and Kalkilya]
Rock Attacks in, Near Hevron Damage Israeli Vehicles
Firebomb Starts Brush Fire Next to Maale Hachamisha [After Arabs Threw Molotov Cocktail at Site]
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The placement in Torah of the Parah Adumah in our Parsha Chukat raises questions as to why it and it’s Halachot are mentioned here in our Parsha; only after Korach’s rebellion and after the continued murmuring of the Am against Moshe Rabbeinu, and after the plague which killed thousands only ending with Aaron’s carrying an incense pan amongst the people (upon Moshe’s instruction), and after the story of the rods.
“Rabbi Artscroll” presents one answer to the question of placement in a commentary in The Stone Chumash on the words at the beginning of our Parsha :
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The legendary Jeff Seidel sent around this Parsha HaShevua Korach to Facebook subscribers:
Parshat Korach relates the story of Korach, Datan, Aviram and 250 members of the shevet (tribe) or Reuven challenging Moshe’s choice for Kohen Gadol (high priest). The end result was that the 250 members were burned by a heavenly fire, and the other 3 were miraculously swallowed by the earth. From a motive perspective, Korach makes the most sense, because he felt slighted for not having been chosen himself. But why would 250 people follow him to their certain death, with apparently little to gain?
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The IRIS blog has offered a valuable analysis of prime minister Netanyahu’s Sunday night speech set in contrast with then-MK Netanyahu’s impassioned plea in 2002 to the Likud central committee against a “Palestinian state”, the position of then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. With his speech on Sunday night, Prime Minister Netanyahu has capitulated on his previously-held principles concerning “two states”.
What everyone may be overlooking are these points;
1/ By his endorsement of “two states”, Hashem, history and the Jewish Divine legacy connected to Eretz Yisrael is nowhere in the equation.
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Israel National News has cited an Army radio report indicating that IDF soldiers have recently been infected with swine flu:
Eighteen soldiers from different units were infected with the H1N1 swine flu virus last week, when they came in contact with a group of youngsters from the United States who were taking part in the Birthright program, according to a Tuesday report on Army Radio.
The soldiers were hospitalized for tests, then released to their homes in good condition. The army says it will continue to monitor their condition and praised the medical corps for acting quickly to isolate the soldiers and prevent the spread of the disease.
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Kassam Hits Ashkelon Beach Region
In Response to Ongoing Rocket and Mortar Fire: Smuggling Tunnels
(IDF Spokesperson June 14th, 2009)
IDF Arrests Ten Terror Suspects [Throughout Yehuda, Shomron]
Shooting Attack [on Jewish Auto] Claimed at Har Bracha
IDF Forces Round Up 9 Terrorists, Weapons [in Shechem, Jenin, Ramallah]
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Palestinians Detonate Bomb Near Troops
Kassam Rocket Hits Sdot Negev Region
IAF Bombs 2 Gaza Smuggling Tunnels in Response to Kassam Attack
Palestinians Hurl Rocks at Israeli Car Near Kalkilya
IDF Arrests One Terror Suspect in Na’alin [Two Kilometers North of Modiin Illit]
Israeli Vehicle Damaged in Stoning Southwest of Bethlehem
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This Parsha HaShevua may seem to the reader a continuation of Parsha Shelach. This is done by intention because it seems very much as if Korach and his attempted power grab is a logical after-affect of the denial of Eetz Yisrael by 10 of the 12 miraglim (spies).
The Sefer “Torah Gems” by Aharon Yaakov Greenberg states the following thought; “Now took Korach…”; that Korach was blessed with many positive attributes: fine lineage, wisdom, qualities worthy of a leader of B’nai Yisrael. “‘Now took Korach — he took himself.’ He did not wait until he was offered the leadership, but he sought to take it by force. That is why he is not worthy of it.” (Torah Gems, by Aharon Yaakov Greenberg, Parsha Korach, Volume 3, page 79.)