Like the Shoah, Tisha B’Av brings us face to face with the problem of evil: “If G-d is truly good, why does He allow evil to exist?” In his essay Sacred and Profane, Kodesh … more

A crucial aspect of the Three Weeks that is often ignored is that of introspection —cheshbon hanefesh. In my estimation, this period is precisely the time for looking in the mirror of … more

Both our parasha and Parashat Korach contain an expression that refers to Hashem’s unique knowledge of mankind: “the G-d of the spirits of all flesh” (Bamidbar 16:22 and … more

The mitzvah of the parah adumah (Red Heifer) is the focal point of the beginning of our parasha: “This is the statute of the Torah that the L-rd commanded, saying: Speak to the children of … more

The most celebrated pasuk of our parasha is “mah tovu:” “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!” (Bamidbar 24:5) As early as the beginning of the … more

Our parasha contains a rich array of stimulating narratives that challenge our understanding and cry out to us, “Darsheni” (“Interpret me!”). One of these is known as the … more

Imagine that we lived in a world of universal peace and harmony, in which war is simply unknown and there is no idol worship. Moreover, picture a time when the Beit Hamikdash stands in all its … more

Our parasha, Behaalotecha, is unique as it contains the only instance in the Torah with verses preceded and followed by an inverted letter nun (Bamidbar 10:35-36). One of the better-known … more

The laws pertaining to the Nazirite are found in this week’s parasha: “A man or woman who sets himself apart by making a nazirite vow to abstain for the sake of the L-rd, he shall … more

As the Torah attests, Yaakov Avinu’s emigration from the Land of Israel to Egypt was the collective action of a family — Yaakov, each of his sons, and their households, for a total of … more