How Goodly are Your Tents

How Goodly are Your Tents

As one of his forced forms of recognition of the positive nature of the children of Israel, Bilam remarks in the Torah section of Balak (Bamidbar 24:5), “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.” In commenting on this verse (Daniel Yaakov Travis, A Voice in the Darkness, pp. 251-252), R. Moshe Sternbuch…

Impossible to Fathom

Impossible to Fathom

The Torah section of Chukat begins with a description of the law of the red heifer that is to be brought in the event of one’s coming in contact with a corpse.  In Kohelet Rabbah 7:23, we are informed that the wise King Solomon attempted to understand the reason for this law but was unsuccessful, concluding that…

The Lion and the Fox

The Lion and the Fox

In a letter to his students (Mikhtav M’Eliyahu, pp. 304 – 306), the venerated mashgiach of Yeshivat Ponovezh (1892 – 1953), R. Eliyahu Dessler makes a noteworthy comment on the Torah section of Korach. In introducing his comment, R. Dessler cites a parable mentioned by R. Hai Gaon in his responsa (13): “There is a parable about a…

Power of a Woman

Power of a Woman

In the beginning of the Torah section of Shlach, Moses changes the name of his faithful student, destined to bring the People of Israel into the Land of Israel, Hoshea Bin Nun to Yehoshua (Bamidbar 13:16).  Our Sages explain that Moses did this with the wish that “May G-d save you from the counsel of…

Tolerance of Difference

Tolerance of Difference

Towards the end of the Torah section of Beha’alotkha, after Miriam, with her brother Aaron’s consent, spoke disparagingly about Moses for distancing himself from his wife Tziporah, G-d rebukes them saying (Bamidbar 12:8), “Why did you not fear to speak about My servant, about Moses?”  In his commentary on this verse, Rashi explains that G-d…

Gift to Hold On To

Gift to Hold On To

The last Torah section of the Five Books of Moses, V’Zot HaBracha, commands a special mark of distinction.  As observant Jews around the world have completed a period of introspection and penitence and are about to conclude the very joyous holiday of Sukkot, on the last day of this holiday, known as Simchat Torah, reserved…

Forgetting

Forgetting

In Moses’ parting admonishment of the people of Israel before he leaves the material world, we read in the Torah section of Ha’Azinu, “You ignored the Rock who gave birth to you, and forgot G-d Who brought you forth” (Devarim 32:18). In his comments on this verse, found in his Rabbi Frand on the Parashah 2, pp….

Turn to G-d

Turn to G-d

In the Torah section of VaYelekh, G-d offers some parting words to Moses before he hands over leadership of the nation to his trusted student Joshua (Devarim 31:14-18): “And G-d spoke to Moses, ‘Behold, your days are drawing near to die; summon Joshua, and both of you shall stand in the Tent of Meeting, and…

Do not Turn your Back

Do not Turn your Back

In one of his regular talks, the noted rosh yeshiva of Ner Yisrael in Baltimore, Rabbi Yissocher Frand mentioned an incident that occurred in McKeesport, Pennsylvania some 70 years ago on the Shabbat when the Torah section of Ki Tetze was to be read:R. Simcha Schepps was a disciple of the Brisker Rav, a student at the…