Hagaon Rav Yehuda Loewe (Maharal) zt”l on Parshat Balak
(from Gur Aryeh on Bemidbar ) “The Donkey’s Words” When Bilam’s donkey opens his mouth and speaks, he says, “What have I done to you that you hit me these three times.” The Hebrew expression used for “three times” is “shalosh regalim”. Why is the standard term for “times”, “pe’amim” not used? Rashi quotes the […]
Hagaon Rav Yaakov Wolf Kranz zt”l on Parshat Chukat
(the Dubno Maggid ) The Long Journey The mysterious ceremony of the “Para Aduma,” the Red Heifer, whose ashes mixed with water are able to purify one who came in contact with the dead, is the prototype “chok”, a law not understandable by human intelligence. Even the wisest man that ever lived, King Shlomo, said, […]
Hagaon Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov zt”l on Parshat Korach
(from Kedushat Levi) Salt and the Leviim The Torah follows the story of Korach with a number of halakhot relating to gifts given to the Kohanim and Leviim. G-d calls His covenant with Aharon to give him teruma and the other priestly gifts a “Brit Melach Olam,” “an eternal covenant of salt (Bemidbar 18:19).” Rashi […]
Hagaon Rav Meir Simcha zt”l on Parshat Shelach
(from Meshekh Chokhma ) Moshe Rabbeinu’s Tzitzit The Midrash (Sifrei Zuta on Bemidbar 15:35) makes a comment that left its commentators puzzled: [Speak to the Children of Israel] – the Children of Israel are obligated in tzitzit. G-d spoke to Moshe – this includes “yechidim”. What are these “yechidim”? To simply translate it as “individuals” […]
Hagaon Rav Chaim Volozhin zt”l on Parshat Behaalotkha
(from Ruach Chaim on Avot 1:1) “Moshe Moshe” Rav Chaim Volozhin zt”l, in his commentary on the first Mishneh of Pirkei Avot, goes into an in-depth discussion of the Moshe, Aaron, and Miriam episode near the end of this week’s Parsha, noting a number of seemingly problematic expressions. Miriam and Aaron say, “Did not G-d […]
Hagaon Rav Baruch Epstein zt”l on Parshat Naso – read
(from Torah Temima Bemidbar 6:25) The Blessing of the Kohanim:The Glow of the Torah On the middle line of Birkat Kohanim, “G-d should shine his face on you and show favor to you,” the Sifrei (Midrash on Bemidbar) comments, “This refers to the shine of the Torah.” What is the shine of the Torah? The […]
Hagaon Rav NTY Berlin zt”l on Parshat Bemidbar – read
(from introduction to Haamek Davar on Bemidbar) “Chumash Hapekudim: A Fitting Title for Bemidbar” The Tanaim (Mishna Yoma 7:1 and Sotah 37b) referred to the book of Bemidbar as “Chumash Hapekudim,” the Book of the Countings. Why did they base the title on the taking of the census? The counting of the people seems to […]
The Chofetz Chaim on Parshat Bechukotai – read
(From the Chofetz Chaim on the Torah pp. 179-180) The Power of Numbers The people of Israel is blessed that, “Five of you will chase a hundred and a hundred of you will chase ten-thousand (Vayikra 26:8).” Rashi asks the obvious question, “The arithmetic does not work out. Five to a hundred is a one […]
Hagaon Rav Shmuel Bornstein zt”l on Parshat Behar – read
(from Shem Mishmuel Parshat Behar) Finding Ourselves Through Shemita and Yovel Parshat Behar opens with the parshiot of Shemita and Yovel. The Shem Mishmuel points out a subtle textual distinction between the Torah’s language in the two sections. Shemita is spoken about in the singular – “sadkha (sing.) lo tizra (sing.),” karmekha (sing.) lo tizmor […]
The Sfat Emet on Parshat Emor – read
(from Sfat Emet Vayikra Parshat Emor, year 5655, p. 184) Three Aspects of Holiness Our parsha discusses kedusha, holiness, with regards to the Kohanim and the holidays. The Sfat Emet describes three aspects of holiness, presenting us with a framework for understanding this fundamental concept. All three aspects are included in the fourth blessing of […]
