The Library

This Parsha begins with a focus on choice. We hear Moshe Rabbeinu saying: "Re'ei a'nochi no'sein lif'nei'chem ha'yom bracha u'klalla".(ArtScroll: "See. I present before you today a blessing and a curse.."). The Sfas Emes brings an insight from his Grandfather. The Chidush...

'lema'an anoischo lenasoischo loda'as es asher bilvovcho lishmor mitsvoisov im loi' ' (8:2) ...in order to afflict you so as to test you, to know what is in your heart, whether you would observe His commandments or not'. Hashem's tests in the midbar where in order to test...

"V'nashal Hasem Elokecha ess hagoyim ha'el m'at m'at, lo suchal kalosam maheir pen tirbeh alechah chayas hasadeh. (7:22) - And Hashem will wipe out the goyim from before you slowly but surely, but you cannot destroy them quickly, lest the animals of the field increase upo...

I was doing shnayim mikreh and I encountered unkelus' translation of eloheyhem. The passuk says that Hashem inflicted punishment on Egypt's elohim. Unkelos translates it as "Ta'vusehon", which comes from the word "Ta'us" or mistake. The gods of Egypt were false gods, or i...

After Bila'am's failed efforts to curse the Jewish people, he devised another ploy. He advised the nations of Midian and Moav to lure the Jews to sin through salacious activities. Midian complied wholeheartedly, offering its daughters as conspirators in the profanity. The...

Taanis Tzibbor - Krias HaTorah: "Im na matzasi chein be'einecha - yeileich na Hashem bekirbeinu" If I am to give you pleasure with the eyes (ten lo mishelo, she'ata v'shelach shelo), it can only be if you are with me. I cannot do it by myself. Ilimalei Hakodosh Boruch Hu...

This week's Parsha contains the lesson of what happens to the ultimate baal taavah (pleasure seeker). Chazal teach us that Bilaam's Power was with his mouth. Another thing Chazal tell us is that Bilaam had an "ayin rah - an evil eye". What was the significance of these tw...