Search Results for: Parsha

Parsha Masei 5768: Consequences of Not Possessing Eretz Yisrael

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Eleven years ago — prior to Aliyah, on 3 July, 1997, after participating in the Sefer Torah Recycling Network’s 2nd Hachnasat Sefer Torah in 3 days (Yishuv Sh’vut Rahel taking place on 1 July) in Yishuv Maalei Chaver, this author was being driven back to Jerusalem. On the way, we passed by, in the distance, the controversial mountain upon which would later be built the new community of Har Homa.

The conversation in the car turned to The Land; the failure of Israel to take over The Land and to evict the Arabs from it. One of the other passengers gave a maashal, a story whose cited reference this author can’t recollect. In essence, the story seemed to indicate that the Arabs are occupying for us those parts of the land which we haven’t inhabited ourselves, lest those areas be inhabited by dangerous wild animals, snakes, poisonous plantlife, etc. read more

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Parsha Matos 5768: (Revisited) Remaining “In Peace” During a War of Survival

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by, Moshe Burt

In Parsha Matos, Sh’vatim Gad and Reuven approached Moshe Rabbeinu regarding their desire to graze their flocks and settle their families on the East side of the Yarden. To this, Moshe Rabbeinu replied, “Shall your brothers go off to war, and shall you sit here?” (Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 32, posuk 6)

Moshe was quite angry at the two Sh’vatim. He was concerned lest Gad and Reuven would avoid taking part in the wars for Eretz Yisrael, that other Sh’vatim might follow suit and B’nai Yisrael might be condemned to wandering in the desert another 40 years. read more

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Parsha Pinchas 5768: Zealousness and National Leadership

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by Moshe Burt

We learn from Midrashim on Parsha Pinchas that there was much dispute in The Camp as to Pinchas’ action in slaying Zimri and Kozbi. There were those who wanted Pinchas killed for killing another Jew; quoted by Rabbi Artscroll(Stone Chumash page 876, Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 25, posuk 11);

“This grandson of someone who fattened calves to be sacrificed to idols” had the gall to kill a prince in Israel! [Pinchas’ father was married to a daughter of Yitro, a former Midianite Priest, who was called Putiel…] read more

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Parsha Balak 5768: Expedient Toleration of Evil in the Camp

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A 2nd Parsha HaShevua by Moshe Burt

In previous years when I have talked about Parsha Balak, about Bila’am’s scheme to lure Jewish men to immorality and avodah zora, as well as connecting Pinchas’ action, in killing Zimri and Kosbi in the act of co-habitation before the Assembly, with a posuk in Parsha Ki Tisa;

You shall annoint Aaron, his sons and their descendents as Kohanim…

But Pinchas was omitted by the posuk in Parsha Ki Tisa as he was born in Mitzrayim, before Yetziyot Mitzrayim, before Matan Torah, to Aaron’s son Elazar, heir to Aaron’s position of Kohen Godol. The Kohanic inheritance and lineage would only kick in after Matan Torah, thus by the annointment of Aaron and his sons, Pinchas Ben Elazar fell through the cracks. read more

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Parsha Balak 5768: Killing the “Beast Used for Cohabitation”

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by Moshe Burt

From the title above, one might get the impression that we are referring to Bila’am and donkey, with whom he undoubtedly shared countless trysts of cohabitation — Not!

Yehuda Nachshoni’s discussions of our Parsha Balak cites the Ohr HaChaim’s question of “why Pinchas killed the women [Kosbi] when, as a non-Jewess, she was absolved of Jewish law.” (Studies in the Weekly Parsha Bamidbar, pages 1112-1117).

But before listing the citing, it seems important to clarify that the discussion is in the context of Zimri’s distorted perception of acting “for the sake of Shemayim” in preempting Avodah Zora by bringing the cohabitation with Moabite women into the camp so that men would not go looking for it outside where the cohabitation would be enticement to idolatry. read more

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Parsha Chukas 5768: Tefillot for Tikkun: Generational Demarcation Point?

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by Moshe Burt

The placement in Torah of our Parsha Chukat and the Parah Adumah raises questions as to why the Parah Adumah 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 “…el Moshe, v’el Aaron” [1] The answer speaks of the symbolism of the Parah Adumah (the Red Heiffer) coming to atone for the sin of the Eigel Zahav (the Golden Calf) “… as if to say let the Mother come and clean up the mess left by her child…” read more

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Parsha Korach 5768: National Responsibility 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 aftermath 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 5768: Shelach Turned Upside Down

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By Moshe Burt

Observing the political governmental scene in Israel today, this author’s memories harken back to the mid-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 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 5768 — Real Leadership and HaKaras HaTov

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by, 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 5768 – Threads of Unity Between Shabbos, Shavu’ot

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by Moshe Burt

With Shavu’ot always being during the week of Shabbos Parsha Naso, 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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