Judaism

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What made this trial different? Why did Moshe momentarily lose control? Why then? Why there? He had faced just this challenge before.

Bilam describes himself as yode’a da’at ‘Elyon, knows the mind of the most-High. Mockingly, the Gemara says “the mind of his own donkey he does not know, he knows the mind of the most-High?” [A line mori ve-rabi R. Lichtenstein zt”l used to invoke frequently, to warn us against glibly asserting we know why Hashem acts in various ways].

Even after all of the medical procedures, both Chaya and Daniel were left with medical problems.

People are particular about whom they wish to live with, so the remaining partner can claim he agreed to live with the initial partner but not with this new person – whether due to the person’s status or character.

Question: In the haftara for Parashat Naso, we read about Manoach’s wife (mother of Shimshon), seeing things that her husband did not. We are never told, however, what her name was. Why?Yossy Guttman

Through learning Torah we connect to Hashem, which immediately ignites our neshamos and causes us to move around, like a flickering flame that darts to and fro.

Korach and Haman were also both brought down by their wealth. Both were fabulously wealthy, and the Midrash informs us that very wealthy people become impudent.

Pleading The Fifth ‘Minors Are Not Obligated To Fulfill Mitzvos’ (Arachin 22a)

Most of Rashi’s comments derive from the Talmud or Midrash. But he almost always changes the wording or quotes specifically one of several versions.

Parshat Korach reminds us that seeing the good we have, and not coveting the good others have, is more urgent than almost anything else.

She argued that Moshe was fabricating his own laws until Korach finally became convinced…and organized a revolt.

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The Midrash tells us that thousands of children in the desert were named Aharon because Aharon brought peace to their homes.

Our Sages tell us that if you want to overcome the hate that you have for someone, give them something – do for them a favor and ultimately the hate will transform to love.

Rabbi Natan Tzvi Finkel argues that Moshe’s continual attempts to resolve the conflict teaches us that the prohibition applies even after the other party rejects an attempt at reconciliation.

The story of Korach remains the classic example of how argument can be dishonored. The Schools of Hillel and Shammai remind us that there is another way.

Rabbi Pappenheim maintains that “hayaven” is derived from the root yud-nun, which means trickery or deception.

Is there anything inherently wrong with a person spending vast sums of money on a wedding or bar mitzvah if he’s rich and can easily afford it?

In contrast to the previous generation – and as we will soon see more clearly – this generation was really saying, “Let’s get to our land already.”

Something that is adin or adinah (see Isaiah 47:8) is sensitive, delicate, or dainty – it is susceptible to being over-stimulated by sensory overload.

Question: How does a person thank Hashem for giving him a child?Yossy Guttman

We assume we know as well as our leaders less because they have failed to prove themselves or have shown deficiencies than because of our attachment to seeing ourselves a certain way. And, as was true of Korach and his group, we do so to our detriment.

They considered themselves like grasshoppers, and did not believe they had the zechusim to conquer the land.

This week's parshah teaches us that there is almost no such thing as objectivity. We are all subjective. All of us speak from our own world of values.

At its core techelet reminds us of our mission in this world, which is to serve G-d by doing mitzvot and avoiding sinning.

Chassidus explains that the spies weren’t afraid they couldn’t defeat the Canaanites. They didn’t wish to enter the Land because they knew they would be forced to become involved in the material world as a result.

The Maharsham adds that only when we acknowledge that we are unable to triumph over the enemy will we be able to be unafraid and will Hashem bring about our salvation.

When A Dead Ewe Gave Birth To A Live Lamb 'We Do Not Wait for Her to Give Birth' (Arachin 7a)

The entire process seemed inexplicably doomed from the start; it was a proverbial comedy of errors if ever there was one.