Archive for the ‘ 4-Bamidbar ’ Category
The first instruction given to Moshe in Sefer BaMidbar is to count Bnei Yisrael. This is not the first time they were counted. In the Portion of Ki Tisa Moshe was also told to count the people. There is one major difference in how the counting was to be carried in this Portion and the [ READ MORE ]
Moshe recounts the journey in the Wilderness that the Israelites travelled when they left Egypt and made their long way to the Promised Land. He mentions all the stopovers that were made and reminds the people of incidents that took place in some of these spots. In one of the stretches of land they traversed [ READ MORE ]
Two tribes asked Moshe to grant them permission to remain on the east side of the Jordan and not to go into Israel proper. At first Moshe refused, but after they explained that they will settle their families and promised that they will go across the river with the rest of the Israelites to fight [ READ MORE ]
Pinchas is known as a KANA’I, a zealot. The Bnei Israel had a moral breakdown and were sinning before an idol on their journey from Egypt. A plague broke out among them. Pinchas saw a prince of one of the tribes openly sinning with a Midianite woman. This was an immorality perpetrated against Hashem. Without [ READ MORE ]
Man’s superiority over animals stems from his ability to speak. Through speech he can convey to others and particularly to the next generation the information he accumulated and they can build upon his knowledge. That is how modern man has been able to make such technical progress. We read an intriguing incident in the story [ READ MORE ]
We read that the Israelites in the Wilderness complained to Moshe that they were tired of eating the Manna. Hashem punished them for their complaint by sending serpents among the people and many died. Moshe prayed to have this plague stopped and was told to make a copper serpent and place it on a pole [ READ MORE ]
Korach and his followers rebelled against Moshe. We know what Korach wanted. He wanted Moshe’s position of leadership. What did Datan and Aviram and the other followers want? From the answers they gave Moshe when he asked to talk to them we may find a clue. When Moshe summoned them to come to him, their [ READ MORE ]
There is an episode mentioned in this week’s Sidra which requires some ramification. We are told about an individual who desecrated the Shabbat and Moshe had to request divine guidance as to how to deal with this issue. We are told by the Sages that there is no chronological order in the Torah. They often [ READ MORE ]
The rabble among the Bnei Israel in the Wilderness complained to Moshe that they were tired of the Manna menu and they wanted meat. Moshe was upset about their complaint and he turned to Hashem in his frustration. He asked why Hashem had placed the entire burden of the people on him. He asked, had [ READ MORE ]
There are three prohibitions placed upon a Nazir or Nasserite. He may not drink wine or any beverage derived from grapes; he may not cut his hair; and he may not become Tammeh or spiritually defiled. (Num. 6,4-6) In keeping with this passage the theme of the Haftarah is about the prediction of the birth [ READ MORE ]
When Hashem instructs Moshe to take a census of the Children of Israel in the Wilderness, he charges him to appoint a representative from every tribe to serve as part of the census takers. This individual had to be: ISH ROSH LEVET AVOTAV HU, “…a man who is a leader of his father’s household.” (Num. [ READ MORE ]
VAYICHTOV MOSHE ET MOTZE’HEM LEMASEHEM, “ Moses wrote their goings forth according to their journeys…” (Num. 33,2) This verse is found in the beginning of the Sidra. What follows is a list of all the stops made by the Israelites in the Wilderness on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. Why was it [ READ MORE ]
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