ספר במדבר is also titled ספר ספרות or the Book of Countings, referring to the two times the Jewish people were counted in the Book, once prior to the חט המרגלים where the דור יוצאי מצרים were counted and once after where their children, the generation that was imminently entering […]

This week I spent some time thinking about when do we commemorate events that happened to the Jewish people in contrast to American legal holidays. Juneteenth celebrates the last slaves in America learning that they were freed. Both holidays, quite logically, celebrate the conclusion of an event. We often don’t […]

When we ponder upon the legendary figures in military history, there are two exceptional commanders who come to mind. These extraordinary individuals possess the charm and brilliance to rally legions of followers, inspiring unwavering loyalty. Their troops would willingly lay down their lives for the chance to serve under their […]

This week we started the beginning of a number of episodes featured throughout sefer bamidbar of rebellions against Moshe Rabbenu’s leadership. Unlike prior and subsequent episodes of the Jews sinning, these are not sins against God personally but are instead directly focused on Moshe Rabbenu. Today though, we read of […]

Rashi asks a question that has become an oft-quoted phrase in other contexts, מה עניין שמיטה אצל הר סיני. Our פרשה introduces the mitzva of שמיטה by first highlighting that it was said at הר סיני. The question that bothers all the ראשנים is why? Rashi famously explains that just […]