Dvar Torah Parshat Chukat 5775 2015 – Who drinks first?

When the people complained that they had no water Hashem instructed Moshe to go speak to the rock and water would flow. Hashem says: When that will happen, וְהִשְׁקִיתָ אֶת הָעֵדָה וְאֶת בְּעִירָם, “…and give drink to the assembly and to their animals.” (Num. 20,8) This implies that first the people should drink and then they should take care of the animals.

This is interesting because of a certain law whereby the Rabbis insist that one must follow. The Rabbis of the Talmud tell us that before someone sits down to eat he must first tend to the needs of his animals and feed them before he can eat. This is based on the Biblical passage which we recite in the Shema: וְנָתַתִּי עֵשֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ לִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ, “I shall provide grass in your field for your cattle and you will eat…”. (Deut. 11,15) Here the Torah mentions first the food for the animals and then food for man. Why is drinking different from eating food?

The answer may be that a person can go longer without food than without water. Hence, when he sits down to eat he should first fulfill his obligation to his animals and then take care of his own needs. When it comes to drink, he may first tend to his own needs.

This stresses how the Torah is concerned that we treat animals properly.

Dvar Torah on Parshat VaEra 5775 2015

In last week’s Portion we read that Moshe spoke to Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave and return to their own country. Pharaoh refused and imposed greater hardships upon the people. This depressed Moshe and he complained to Hashem.

This week we read again that Hashem tells Moshe to speak to the people to inform them that He is about to release them from bondage and take them back to their land. The Torah tells us that when Moshe spoke to them they did not heed him: מִקֹּצֶר רוּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָה קָשָׁה, “…because of shortness of breath and hard work.” (Ex. 6,9)

This is usually taken to mean that the Children of Israel did not accept Moshe’s words because of their shortness of breath or impatience due to their hard work in bondage.

The Ralbag, a biblical commentator of the 12th century, gives a unique and different meaning to these words. He implies that they did not accept Moshe’s words because of the shortness of breath of Moshe. They saw that he was depressed as a result of his first conversation with Pharaoh. They assumed that since he was so dejected from that outcome he will not be able to accomplish his mission.

A leader must have full confidence in what he wants to accomplish in order to succeed. If he goes about his tasks with half a heart and little spirit he will not succeed. Leaders must be forceful and decisive in their actions.

Dvar Torah on Parshat Korach 5774 2014 | What’s Your Motive?

Korach rebelled against Moshe’s leadership arguing that Moshe and Aharon had taken upon themselves the leadership when: כָל הָעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדֹשִׁים
“…for the entire assembly -all of them- are holy…why do you exalt yourselves…”. (Num. 16,3) Moshe’s answer to Korach was: הַמְעַט מִכֶּם כִּי הִבְדִּיל אֱלֹקֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶתְכֶם, “Is it not enough for you that G-d of Israel has segregated you…to perform the service of the Mishkan…?” (Num. 16,9)

What was Moshe’s argument against Korach? Korach wanted Moshe or Aharon’s position. What effect does Moshe’s argument have that Korach is a Levite and isn’t that enough for him? Obviously Korach thought it was not enough.

A great Rabbi once gave a clever answer to this question. Korach posed his opposition against Moshe saying that everyone is holy and why was Moshe taking a special position above everyone. Moshe’s answer was if everyone is holy, as you claim, why didn’t you complain when you were made a Levite above others and given special holy functions in the Mishkan? Since you accepted that position without considering others, you are only interested in glorifying yourself.

Before seeking a special position one should take an honest look at himself and try to determine his real motive. Is it to perform the task that is needed to be done or is it just to satisfy his own selfish interests?

Yom Kippur 5774 – Insight on the Parsha

During the Mincha service on Yom Kippur afternoon we read the end of the Biblical portion which was read in the Shacharit service. We are admonished not to follow the practices we learned in Egypt while we were enslaved there nor those of the people who dwelled in the Land of Canaan into which we entered. Their customs and practices were corrupt and not befitting for a holy people.

The Torah then says: אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי תַּעֲשׂוּ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ לָלֶכֶת בָּהֶם, “Carry out My laws and safeguard My decrees to follow them…”. (Lev. 18,4) The last two words, לָלֶכֶת בָּהֶם, “to follow them” are superfluous. If someone ‘carries out’ and ‘safeguards’ the decrees, he is certainly ‘following them’.

While the translation is “to follow them” the Hebrew words לָלֶכֶת בָּהֶם literally mean to walk in them. What is implied here is that it is not enough just to do the laws but one must be walking with them. That means, he should be advancing with them. He is not to perform them perfunctorily or mechanically.

When one does a Mitzvah it should be done with meaning, with a new feeling and with advanced significance. By doing so he adds greater importance and substance to the Mitzvah.

Dvar Torah Parshat Re’eh 5773 2013

Moshe tells the people of Israel, “You shall cross the Jordan and settle in the land that Hashem … causes you to inherit…” וְהֵנִיחַ לָכֶם מִכָּל אֹיְבֵיכֶם מִסָּבִיב וִישַׁבְתֶּם בֶּטַח, “…and He will give you rest from all your enemies all around, and you will dwell securely.” (Deut. 12,10) If Hashem will give the Israelites peace from the enemies, they will surely live peacefully. Why add those additional words?

Perhaps the reason is that when the country is surrounded by enemies the Israelites would fight among themselves, each one with a different solution as to how to deal with the danger. After the enemies are defeated it will bring peace not only from outside the country but also within. No longer will there be a need for further disputes among the people themselves.

Unfortunately, we are living in Israel today with the same external threats from enemies from without who threaten to destroy us. Among the Jews themselves there are varying opinions as to how we should be dealing with these threats. This is what Moshe was telling our people. There may be disagreements and arguments among the people as to what is the correct approach to our enemies. When they will have been quieted, then וִישַׁבְתֶּם בֶּטַח then you will live peacefully among yourselves.