Rabbi Avi Billet
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In times like these, one feels a sense of helplessness, of unworthinesss. How many of us, were we fit and trained properly, would be willing to go to the front lines, or send our sons to the front lines, knowing we or they might not return? more
Moshe said, “G-d was also angry at me … [as He] said, ‘You too shall not go there. Yehoshua bin-Nun … is the one who will apportion it to Israel. As for your children of whom you said ‘They’ll be taken captive,’ and your children who did not know good from evil this day – they will come there. To them shall I give it and they shall possess it.” (Devarim 1:37-39) more
When the war with Midian did not originally go as planned, the Torah told us (31:14) that Moshe — normally a humble person with a checked demeanor — was powerful, resolute and strong, declaring that is war there no place for softness and for giving in and forgiving. more
After the battle with Midian, the Torah tells us that the generals and captains, who were officers over the army’s divisions, approached Moshe. They said to him, “We have taken a census of the warriors under our command and not a single man has been lost!” (31:48-49) more
Parshat Pinchas contains the maftir readings for all of the Biblical holidays. Every holiday had a specific set of korbanot (offerings) that were brought in its honor. A similarity running across all of the holidays is a single goat which was brought as a chatat (sin offering) to atone for the sins of the people. more
The story of Balak and Bilaam is fascinating because it is indicative of an obsession that hasn’t waned in the history of mankind since the time of Avraham our forefather. more
In the beginning of Chapter 21, the Torah tells how an encounter with the Canaanites of the Negev concluded with the capture of a single captive – who Rashi identifies as a maidservant. more
Kozhnitzer Maggid was known to be a pursuer of peace. It happened that a terrible fight broke out amongst the Jews living in a city close to Kozhnitz, which caused some kind of “breakaway” in the community. more
Towards the end of Shlach, the Torah gives us instructions for a case of what Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan entitles, “Communal Sin Offerings for Idolatry,” based no doubt on Rashi’s explanation of the phrase, “When [the collective] you err and don’t do all of these commandments.” more
The jobs of the Levitic families were spelled out in last week’s Torah portion, giving us the jobs of the Kehat family; now, moving into our parsha, we view depictions of the Gershon and Merari families. more
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