Torah Commentary
God Hears, But What We Do Matters Most
Miriam and Aaron's criticism of Moses, and Miriam's punishment of leprosy teach lessons of sibling and communal responsibility.
Parshat Beha’alotcha: Summary
The Israelites receive instructions regarding Passover, journey forth from Sinai and complain to God on several occasions.
Making Sense Of The Census
The prohibition against the direct counting of the Israelites cautions us to remember the human faces behind abstract statistics.
Words That Wound
The Rabbinic and Hasidic understandings of gossip focus on the impossibility of repairing the damage it causes.
The Service Of Song
The duty of the Levites to accompany the Tabernacle service with music and song reminds us to serve God with joy.
How The Trouble Began
The Israelites' troubles, and indeed our own troubles, begin when we turn away from God.
The Nazirite–A Sacred Volunteer
The nazirite exemplifies actively choosing a sacred status with a higher level of responsibility.
Princely Gifts
The princes' gifts to the Tabernacle illustrate important principles of leadership and methods of balancing personal and communal needs.