Justice Begins with Mercy One of the most persistent misunderstandings of Scripture is the belief that the Torah reveals a God of judgment while the Besorot reveal a God of grace. Few portions challenge that misconception more clearly than Masei.…
Tag: Bamidbar
Bittersweet: Remembering Who We Are
Parashat Chukat is one of the most enigmatic portions in the entire Torah. It begins with a strange ritual, winds through miracles and mourning, and ends in paradox. The sages teach us that if we are willing to live with…
Korach – You Say You Want a Revolution
Do you ever have, as one children’s book would describe it, a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day”? Well, Moses sure did. In fact, it must have seemed to him like he had fourteen thousand six hundred days like…
Shelach Lecha – The Hallmark of Equality
Seeing Giants or Seeing God? This week’s portion, Shelach Lecha, contains several obvious themes within a familiar narrative: Be bold. Do not fear. Trust God. The majority is not always right. The context, of course, is the story of the…
Beha’alotcha – Salvation On Trial
This week’s parasha will introduce a theme that will characterize much of the remaining narrative of Bamidbar. Chapters 11-25 contain a series of refusals on the part of Israel to accept authority. In chapter 12 even Miriam challenges Moses’ authority.…
Nasso – Bless is More
Listen to an audio version… The Blessing We Never Outgrow This week’s parasha contains one of only two prescribed blessings in the entire Torah: the Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing. “Adonai bless you and keep you! Adonai make His face…
Bamidbar – Making Souls Count
Counting More Than Numbers There is something both necessary and unsettling about a census. Most of us understand why governments conduct them. Demographic information helps determine where roads are built, where hospitals are needed, how schools are funded, and how…
Matot / Massei – Passing On Our Inheritance
The Hebrew word morashah is often translated as heritage or legacy, and at times it refers to a more concrete inheritance. But in the biblical imagination, inheritance is never just about land or possessions—it’s about identity, destiny, and continuity. In…
Balak – Blessed and The Source of Blessing
Listen to an audio version Every year we read Parashat Balak and I am utterly amazed. What a remarkably different approach to a reoccurring theme. Many have understood Torah as love letters between Hashem and Israel. In fact the focus…
Chukat – Bitter Water and Sweet Surrender
Parashat Chukat is one of the most enigmatic portions in the entire Torah. It seems to flow with contradiction: it begins with a mysterious ordinance, introduces a miraculous yet perplexing deliverance, and ends in what feels like a strange and…