Three times Bilam attempted to curse Beneh Yisrael, and all three times, Hashem forced him to pronounce beautiful blessings, instead. When he made his third and final attempt, he introduced his prophecy by saying, “These are the words of...
Parashat Hukat tells the story of Moshe hitting the rock, and how Hashem punished him severely for this sin, decreeing that he would not enter into the Land of Israel. The most common understanding of this episode is...
Speak to the Rock At last, the moment had arrived. For 40 years they had wandered together in a wilderness. Most of the older generation had already passed on. Even the beloved Miriam was no more. By now,...
The Torah in Parashat Balak tells the famous story of Bilam’s failed attempts to place a curse on Beneh Yisrael. Bilam, a non-Jewish prophet, was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, who felt threatened by Beneh...
The Torah in Parashat Hukat present the law of Para Aduma – the “red heifer” whose ashes were used to prepare the purifying waters, through which people and objects would be purified after becoming Tameh (impure). In...
When Balak, king of Moav, saw that the great giants Sichon and Og fell to the Bnei Yisroel, he was filled with terror. These giants who were born before the Great Flood and had dinosaur-like dimensions (Sichon was...
When does a restaurant need a mashgiach? How important is the mashgiach? A restaurant always needs a mashgiach. A restaurant owned by a religious Jew, whether it’s meat or dairy, requires a mashgiach...
The whole ceremony of Parah Adumah [Red Heifer] is the q u i n t e s s e n t i a l chok [mitzvah-decree with no apparent reason]. Rashi cites the Medrash that the Satan and...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, Hi, I’ve recently dated a guy four times, and I’m not sure what to do. I find him interesting to speak with, we have a good time on...
The Mutiny The narrative is dramatic, tragic, and unmistakably Jewish. Four individuals -- Korach, Dasan, Aviram, and On son of Peles -- lead a mass mutiny against Moshe, the leader of the Jewish people, and his brother Aaron, the...