In Jewish law, when we stipulate a payment on the fulfilment of a condition, if the condition is met, the payment is backdated to the day the condition was set. If we learn how to “see” G-d’s love even in prosaic things, G-d will backdate our blessings to this Shabbat
D’var Torah for Re’eh.
Why does the Torah specifically become so emphatic and present its message with such urgent animation in this parasha?
Some Torah prohibitions became clear in our time. Only in our generation have we come to see how necessary the simple, literal meaning is: Don’t destroy synagogues, don’t raze Jewish cities, don’t bulldoze Jewish houses - in Israel, “lest the Gentiles hear of it, and destroy the Land of Israel”.
“To His dwelling you shall seek, and there you shall come.” Why not identify the place in the Torah?
There are material consequences in addition to the spiritual ones that ensue from one’s embrace or rejection of Torah.
Great good awaits those who toil in the ocean of the oral Torah - as well as those who go in the way of עקב: fulfilling all the mitzvot.
Most of us know the famous verse asking that question and the answer that follows it. But what does it mean?
Why would Moshe make money from carving the Second Tablets?
Historically there were two different customs with regard to public Torah reading. Which is best?
Even commandments not dependent on the land, such as tefillin and mezuzah, are primarily for those dwelling in the Land of Israel.
Our Prophets and Sages have already told us that when we return to our Land to fulfill our historical mission of bringing light to the world, the nations will rise against us.
When one requires water in Israel, one looks up. When one needs security, stability, or prosperity in Israel, one also looks up.
Hamas leaders and followers are no better than Ben-Hadad of Aram. They have forfeited any rightto live.
Begun? Why does Moshe Rabbeinu use that verb after all the miracles of the Exodus and the sojourn in the desert?
Hashem responds to sentiments, not just words.
Sometimes, we may have fallen deeply in love with someone who is just “unsuitable” for us. The feeling can be so compelling that we might rush into a disastrous marriage simply because we cannot see beyond our fantasies.
The Book of Devarim is not a repetition, it is an explanation of Torah in the Land, and its first lesson is that those who think Torah and military are two separate realms, must realize that the emergence of the Jewish People involves both.
The Book of Devarim teaches us about the importance of rebuke and the attitude we must assume toward it.
The Torah emphasizes the profound power and responsibility of speech through the laws of nedarim, teaching us that individuals have the ability to create with their words and reflecting a deep connection between speech, commitment, & responsibility.
3,297 years ago, before despatching the Children of Israel on their war of vengeance against Midian, G-d infused them with the spiritual reinforcements necessary for victory - their national identity, their sense of history, their understanding of their destiny. So too, the Religious Zionist soldiers today.
‘Our Sages comment, that because Reuben and Gad were so attached to their wealth, till they were prepared to settle outside the land, they were the exiled from it, before the other tribes.'
At the end of the day, even if sanctions and other measures are introduced, we all know that no one will be shot at while delving over a complicated issue in the Gemara.
Moving from place to place won’t solve anything.
To understand the phenomenon of a refuge city more clearly, we must fully appreciate the great value that the Torah attaches to the preservation of human life.
The only thing that matters is your relationship with G-d.
Why did the Torah require the division of the Land of Israel to be done specifically by a lottery?
Bilaam realizes that the way to overcome Israel is to instigate conflict within Israel itself.
Most people automatically and mindlessly associate religion with unconditional compassion. The Talmud, however, teaches that in the proper context, vengeance against evil can be a virtuous and necessary response.
Why Hashem caused Moshe to forget the halakha when confronted by Zimri, and for it to be recalled by Pinchas.
This parasha actually ends the era of Moses and opens the era of Joshua. It opens the gates to the Land of Israel with all its blessings and challenges.
The aim of Balak and Bilam to create division among Israel did not succeed. The enemies of Israel today, who seek to dispossess us of our Land and to destroy us, also understand what Balak and Bilaam understood.
As we chant the Torah portion this week, it is our privilege and duty to thank G-d for the magnificent miracles we experienced in our lifetimes. They are of the same caliber as biblical miracles and like the blessings recited by the Bilam, except that we were privileged to witness them.
The Torah only forbids magic because it tries to short-circuit Divine justice.
Could Bilam really wreak havoc on the Jews? What exactly is the power of a curse? Can a human by the mere verbalization of certain words effectuate changes in the real world?
It is impossible to deduce what God truly wants simply by observing the ways of the world. Our service of God can only be guided by those directives which God explicitly transmitted through His Torah.
‘This is truly ‘a gift’ - as our parsha promises - to become like a well of flowing water - of Torah.’
Why doesn’t Hashem simply suspend the attack of the serpents without introduction of this strange symbol?
Speech is the currency of connection, and has the power to work in ways both good and bad.
With so many men dead, who would tell the youth about yetzias Mitzrayim?
Rashi seems to be saying that the sin of Moshe consisted in his deviating from the command of Hashem to speak to the rock instead of hitting it. But why would Moshe, the faithful servant, not do exactly what he was told?
'Genuine holiness is an altruistic striving for good for its own sake, not out of self-interest.'
If we are willing to face a painful truth, we can learn a very important lesson from this. There is no guarantee that a very learned person will also be a great Tzadik (righteous person).
The existence of the State, in and of itself, is a mitzvah, and transgressions performed within it do not invalidate its sanctity.
Did the intelligent Korach not feel the contradiction in his words?
Iran will remain a world threat because the U.S. and Israel did not finish the job in the fashion dictated in the Torah. But we must recognize that Trump made up for FDR's refusal to bomb the tracks leading to Auschwitz.
There are currently more than 100,000 Israelis abroad, stranded in dozens of countries ever since this current war closed the airspace above Israel. Yet the overriding concern of all these Israelis abroad is how to come home despite the missiles from Iran.
On the most basic level, the Sin of the Spies was that they were overcome by fear and communicated their despair to the nation. The lessons of this episode are very relevant to the current situation.
It’s safer in the Beis Medrash. It’s safer in exile-mode. It’s spiritually cleaner to stay away from politics, from armies, from national responsibility. Just what the spies wanted.
Your primary interest should be to create a pleasant environment for others to enjoy. And that message is in the words of Hashem to Moshe.
Answering an age-old question: Why does the story of the spies follow the story of Miriam's punishment for slander?
Our sources deal with the spiritual aspects of naming a child - boy or girl.
The Sages debate the exact nature of the positive effect of the Sotah waters.
The ultimate CHOK, which is beyond all human understanding, is the day-to-day lives we lead in Eretz Yisrael, with our phenomenal success in all walks of life.
The Kohen loves the people and they, in turn, love him.
This week’s parsha, Naso, contains a passage so familiar that its poetry sometimes hides its depth: the Priestly Blessing. What is its message?
This debate is not just philosophical—it is playing out today in Israeli society.
The Jewish people sought to uncover and emphasize every individual’s personal strengths, and thus chose banners for each tribe, but no banners flew over the central Tent of Meeting.
We can glean from the sacrifice of the day a poignant perspective as to how to relate to the learning of the Torah.
There are many explanations as to the significance of deserts, of wildernesses, within our tradition.
