Close To Torah

PORTRAYING GOOD INTENTIONS

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos lists the dispute of Korach and Moshe Rabbeinu as the classic example of a machlokes that is not l’sheim Shomayim. At first glance, nothing could seem farther from the truth. Korach came with eloquent claims that every member of the Jewish people is holy, and outwardly appeared extremely l’sheim Shomayim.

Herein lies the deeper meaning of the Mishnah. Although Korach was motivated by a desire for… Continue reading

…והנה פרח מטה אהרן לבית לוי ויצא פרח ויצץ ציץ ויגמל שקדים. (יז:כג).

“…Aharon’s stick, representing the tribe of Levi, opened with leaves, buds and almonds growing on it” (17:23).
Hashem commanded Moshe to take a stick from each tribe and place it before the Aron in order to show that only Aharon’s stick would blossom, because he was the chosen Kohen. The verse describes that… Continue reading

Korach waged an all-out war with Moshe. Hashem had told Moshe to appoint Elitzafon as the Nasi of Kahas, however, Korach felt that he deserved that position. How could Korach argue on what Hashem said?

The Be’er Moshe explains that Korach’s complaint against Moshe was not that Moshe had made up anything, but that rather Moshe had influenced Hashem’s decision by requesting his relative to get the high position… Continue reading

LIVING MIRACULOUSLY

“Send for yourself men of stature to spy the land” (Bamidbar 13:2).      Ten makkos, monn and Krias Yam Suf were among the numerous miracles that Hashem performed for the Jewish people during Yetzias Mitzrayim. After seeing Hashem’s Hand perform so many wonders, there was seemingly no place to have any doubt about His ability to take them into Eretz Yisroel. Why was there a need to send spies in beforehand?… Continue reading

שלח לך אנשים ויתרו את ארץ כנען (יג:ב).

“Send for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan” (13:2).
The incident of the Meraglim is always illuminating. There are many questions which need to be answered. First on my list has always been their very name. The Torah says that their job was “ויתרו, to spy out” and repeats this phrase numerous times. The only… Continue reading

When the Meraglim returned, they prefaced their evil report with words of undeniable truth. “Indeed, the land is flowing with milk and honey, but…. we are doomed….”

The commentators point out that in order for them to give credence to their slanderous report they needed to start with some truth. Chazal teach us that “falsehood has no feet”.  Only when some truth is mixed in can a lie take… Continue reading

ויצעק משה אל ה’ לאמר אל נא רפא נא לה (יב:יג).

“Moshe called out to Hashem, ‘please Hashem, cure her’”! (12:13)
The very first Machlokes, argument between two valid rabbinical opinions, to ever take place has a tremendous lesson to teach us. The dispute was regarding smicha, whether one could lean on an animal (placing hands upon it to pronounce confession before offering it as a… Continue reading

The manna is discussed in this week’s Parsha. Chazal (Yuma 75b) state that the manna was eaten in three different forms. The righteous people ate it in bread form. The average people ate it as cake and the evil people ground it up into liquid form.

Though my comment here is allegorical, it may have some Halachic basis as well. I know people who avoid washing and eating bread… Continue reading

THE DANGERS OF DEVIATION

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, ‘Speak to Aharon, and say to him, ‘When you light the menorah…’ And Aharon did so…” (Bamidbar 8:1-2). In the parsha of Beha’aloscha, Hashem commands Aharon regarding the mitzvah of lighting the menorah. The Torah writes that “Aharon did so” to confirm that he did what he was told. Rashi explains that it was to Aharon’s great praise that he did not… Continue reading

Beha’aloscha is a parsha notorious for bad things. Right after the nun hafucha, the upside-down nun, which is the sign of trouble, the situation starts looking worse and worse.

“Vayehi Ha’am Kamisonenim” – the people were beginning to complain. The passuk doesn’t relate what they were complaining about, but it makes one thing clear. “Rah B’eyney Hashem” – it was bad in the eyes of Hashem. Hashem brought about… Continue reading