Parashat Ha Shavua Commentaries

Many of the world religions share a great deal: a sense of wonder and marvel at the simple fact of existence, the miracle of creation and of life, the mystery of human consciousness, the intrusion of the sacred into the profane, the love of our fellow human beings and the pursuit of peace and of justice. Like other faiths, Judaism also cultivates an awareness of these laudable qualities. Just as many of the world’s religions trace their discovery of these traits to the example of a founder, so Judaism sees many of its highest values embodied in Moshe Rabbenu, our teacher Moses. Read more...

After the sin of Baal-Pe’or, when our ancestors began to worship an idol, God responded by unleashing a terrible plague. Sinners and innocent alike were stricken, and the plague was only stopped through the intercession of Pinhas. As remembered by the psalmist: “Then Pinhas stood up and vay-falel and so the plague was stayed, and that was counted to him for righteousness to all generations forevermore.” Read more...

In one of the most gripping scenes in the Torah, the Gentile prophet Bilaam has been summoned to curse the assembled Israelites on behalf of Balak, the King of Edom. Protesting that he can only say what he is instructed by God, Bilaam nonetheless ascends the heights of a nearby mountain, to get a commanding view of Israel - all the better to curse them. Each time he attempts to curse the people, and each time he is overwhelmed by God's mandate to bless. Finally, in a moment of personal envy and hope, Bilaam blurts out, "Let me die the death of the righteous. May my fate be like theirs!" Read more...

This week, we read the double Torah portion of Matot-Ma'ase, completing the book of Numbers, meeting the Israelites as they approach the Promised Land.  Knowing that entering the land of Israel brings to fruition the original promise from God to our ancestors, one might expect the Torah to focus on the destination - on the place that is to be an end to the years of wandering in the desert.  And, we might even expect that the Torah would be full of all that will happen once our people enter the Land of Milk and Honey.  Yet, as the final chapters of desert wandering unfold, wha Read more...

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a political, theological, legal or interpersonal disagreement with someone?  Don't feel too bad - the rest of us have as well.  Whether it's with a friend, a co-worker, a family member, or an acquaintance, each of us can think of times when we have gotten into heated arguments or debates.  The Rabbis of the Talmud called such a disagreement a makhlokhet - a separation. Read more...