Weekly Torah Commentary
Lost Stories
The list of the Israelites' encampments during their journeys in the wilderness reminds us of the importance of preserving and retelling our own stories.
Parashat Matot: Summary
Moses describes the laws of oaths; the Israelites battle the Midianites; the tribes of Reuben and Gad request to dwell outside of the Land of Israel.
The Importance Of Intention
The Torah's establishment of Cities of Refuge introduces the idea that intention determines the meaning of an action.
Some Messages Are Hard To Deliver
The severity of the war against the Midianites should motivate us to examine our own behavior and root out our own forms of idolatry.
Holy Words
The laws of vows and the rabbinic cautions against making them teach the holiness and power of the spoken word.
Compassionate Conquest
The war against Midian teaches that when Israel does fight wars, they must fight with compassion and a minimum of casualties.
To See With The Heart
The daughters of Zelophchad teach us to see people not as objects in our lives but as subjects of their own lives.
Green Spaces: A World Not Of Our Making
The Levites' city dwellings remind us of the importance of green, agricultural spaces for encountering God's creation.