Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 38

July 29, 2023; 11 Av, 5783

Parsha “You saw with your own eyes what Hashem did in the matter of baal-peor, that Hashem wiped out from among you every person who followed baal-peor; while you, who hold fast to Hashem, are all alive today.” (Devarim 4:3-4)

These Pesukim tell us that those that worshipped baal peor (an idol) were wiped out, but those “who hold fast to Hashem, are all alive”. The words “who hold fast to Hashem” are a translation of the word “הַדְּבֵקִים” which is the word used in the Possuk above. “הַדְּבֵקִים” has a deeper meaning in the Torah than what the English translation conveys. “הַדְּבֵקִים” really refers to a cleaving onto Hashem – a special, close relationship between Hashem and an individual...

Click Here To Download Or Print

Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 37

July 22, 2023; 4 Av, 5783

Parsha “These are the words that Moshe addressed to all of Israel on the other side of the Jordan; through the wilderness, in the Arabah near Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab.” (Devarim 1:1)

Rashi in this week’s Parsha tells us that the “words” that were addressed to Bnei Yisrael in the above referenced Possuk, were meant to be words of rebuke and that the places that Moshe referenced in the second half of the Possuk were a listing of every location at which Bnei Yisrael sinned and angered Hashem. By listing these locations, Moshe hoped to rebuke Bnei Yisrael for their sins, by hinting at them and reminding them where they were committed...

Click Here To Download Or Print

Weekly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 36

July 15, 2023; 26 Tamuz, 5783

Parsha In Parshas Massai we read about the journeys of Bnei Yisrael in the Midbar (dessert). It begins with the words, “These are the journeys of the children of Israel who left the land of Egypt in their legions, under the charge of Moshe and Aharon.” (Bamidbar 33:1)

Later in the Parsha, we read about the following journey: “They journeyed from Dibon Gad and camped in Almon Divlasaimah.” (Bamidbar 33:46)

The word “Almon” means “deprived” and the word “Divlasaimah” means “dates”. The Targum Yonasan explains that the name of this town hints at the fact that Bnei Yisrael were “deprived” of the well of Miriam (where they received water in the dessert from), because they left the Torah which is as sweet as the honey of “dates”...

Click Here To Download Or Print