Search Results for: Parsha

Parsha Chukas 5769: Rachel Imeinu’s Tefillot: Demarcation Point Between Corruption and Caring?

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by Moshe Burt

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 : read more

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Parsha Korach 5769-A: Was Dying by Heavenly Fire Worth the Incense?

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Commentary by Moshe Burt

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? read more

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Parsha Korach 5769: Proficiency and Merit vs Protexia and Political Self-Interest

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by Moshe Burt

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.) read more

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Parsha Shelach 5769: Shelach Turned on its Head

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by Moshe Burt

Observing the political governmental scene in Israel today, this author’s memories harken back to the late-1980s in Philadelphia, in the years just prior to becoming Ba’al Teshuva.

The conservative synagogue attended for Rosh Hoshana and Yom Kippur had a practice of bringing in a young JTS (Jewish Theological Seminary) guest Rabbi to help and assist the synagogue’s long-time Rabbi who was getting on in years. This particular Yomim Tovim, they brought in a young fellow who proceeded to pitch the philosophies of Breira, one of the leftist-agendized predecessors of Shalom Achshav. read more

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Parsha Beha’aloscha 5769 — Real Leadership vs Corrupt, Evil Pretenders

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Moshe Burt

Our Parsha speaks about the reasons for the separate section delineated by the inverted “nuns” — “When the Aron (the Ark) would journey, Moshe said, ‘Arise Hashem, and let your foes be scattered, let those who hate you flee from before you.’ And when it rested, he would say, ‘Reside tranquilly, O, Hashem, among the myriad thousands of Israel.'” (Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 10, posukim 35-36)

Preceding these posukim are the posukim which speak about the journey of the Aron and of B’nai Yisrael from Har Sinai to their next resting place, “…a three day distance…” (Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 10, posukim 33 & 34). read more

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Shavu’ot/Parsha Naso 5769: Threads of Unity Between Jews — Newly Arrived and Indigenous

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Please Note: The author of the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion Blog has set up a special group on Facebook called: Bring Jonathan Pollard Home and urges everyone on this Parsha HaShevua list to join the group. Further, this author urges all of you to dedicate your Shavu’ot night learning L’Zechut Jonathan Pollard — Yehonatan Ben Malka.

Shavu’ot/Parsha Naso 5769: Threads of Unity Between Jews — Newly Arrived and Indigenous

by Moshe Burt

With Shavu’ot always being during the week of Shabbos Parsha Naso, and this year with Shavu’ot coming on the night of yom shi’shi and Shabbos following directly after, there are various common threads between Shabbos Parsha Naso and Chag HaShavu’ot. There is the thread of national unity projected by the Kohanim as expressed in the Birchat Kohanim, the thread of diversity and unique expression within the 12 repetitions of the same offering brought by the Sh’vatim at the inauguration of the Mishkan and the thread regarding the importance of caring for the Ger Tzeddik. read more

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Parsha Bamidbar 5769: Unity, and Diversity Within Unity

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by Moshe Burt

As has been this author’s norm of late, the Parsha HaShevua for the next Shabbos is prepared on the previous Motsei Shabbos. And so, when preparing the Parsha HaShevua for last week’s parshiyot Behar and Bechukotai, this author did not have the benefit of a vort written by Moshe Feiglin entitled “The Easy Way to Heaven on Earth”, easily the most concise and to-the-point vort I’ve seen on on the Blessings and Curses enunciated in parsha Bechukotai.

Feiglin’s words seem in accord with a vort Rav Malinowitz spoke last year on Shabbos Bechukotai regarding the Tochocha, the rebuke about the perils of complacency, i.e. such things as always bringing something new; a new perspective, a new understanding regarding how the commentators and commentaries view any given point of Torah. And thet seem, as well, in accord with a vort this past Shabbos by Rav Malinowitz where he speaks of always learning, always growing and reaching beyond the bare minimum of doing mitzvot. read more

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Parsha Emor 5769: The Kohen’s Purity in Joining Physical and Spiritual

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by Moshe Burt

The positioning in Torah of our Parsha Emor, following last week’s Parsha Kedoshim gives rise to thought and contemplation.

In the previous 2 twin Parshas; Acharei Mos and Kedoshim and Tazria and Metzora before them, we learn about the Kohen as the only one Divinely invested with ruling as to Tumah or Ta’Hara regarding ones’ skin, hair, clothing or homes as well as with being the vehicle for Yom Kippur avodah in the Kadosh Kedoshim and as the model of Darchim for the entire B’nai Yisrael to ideally emulate as a model for all mankind. read more

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Parsha Acharei Mos/Kedoshim 5769: The Kohen – Paradigm for Loving Care, Conduit for Unity

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by Moshe Burt

Our twin Parshiyot; Acharei Mos and Kedoshim are what baseball fans refer to as another of the “doubleheader” parshas. And just as Parshiyot Tazria and Metzora are extensions of each other, visa vi Tumah and Ta’Hara regarding post-birth, regarding skin, hair, clothing or regarding one’s home or building; Acharei Mos and Kedoshim are extensions of each other regarding Kohanim, Yom Kippur, the Kohen’s Yom Kippur avodah in the Kadosh Kedoshim and the Kohanic model of Darchim, which the entire B’nai Yisrael ideally embraces and exhibits as a model for all mankind. read more

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Parsha Shemini 5769 — Gauging the Sincerity of a Jew’s Service

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By Moshe Burt

We learn in Parsha Tzav that for seven days, Moshe taught Aaron HaKohen and his sons the laws of their Avodah in the Mishkan. (You might say that they were given OJT from Shemayim.)

Our Parsha Shemini begins by relating that on the eighth day, Aaron and his sons commenced their Avodah HaKodosh. And it is interesting and ironic that our parsha is the other side of the term; “Tzav-Shemonah” which is the document or order issued by the Israel Defense Forces calling reservists to active duty in event of war. read more

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