One of the topics featured in this week’s parshah is that of nezirus, the body of law that pertains to the nazir – the individual who has taken the nazarite vow. This vow obligates him, among other things, to refrain from cutting his hair for the duration of his nezirus period. With the culmination of this period, he is obligated to shave off his head of hair. The Purest Nazir Now, the Gemara (Nedarim 9b) relates a [...]
Shavuos is familiar to us as the festival celebrating the giving of the Torah – “Zman Matan Toraseinu.” At the same time, however, there are certain aspects of this yom tov – many of them actually quite basic, it would seem – that may have escaped our consciousness. The Countdown One of these issues relates to the very title of this yom tov. Normally, and quite sensibly, the title that is [...]
This week’s parshah opens in a somewhat unique manner. The first section details the laws of nedarim (vows) and begins with an introductory proclamation. While so far this may seem fairly typical, the departure here relates to the individuals being addressed. As the passuk states: וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־רָאשֵׁי הַמַּטּוֹת לִבְנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל לֵאמֹר זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ד'... –“And Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of B’nei Yisrael, saying: ‘This is the matter that Hashem has commanded...’” (Bamidbar [...]
The parshah opens up with words of praise for Pinchas, whose act of zealotry put an end to what had been Yisrael’s disgrace: וַיְדַבֵּר ד' אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר פִּינְחָס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן הֵשִׁיב אֶת־חֲמָתִי מֵעַל בְּנֵי־יִשְֹרָאֵל בְּקַנְאוֹ אֶת־קִנְאָתִי בְּתוֹכָם וְלֹא־כִלִּיתִי אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְֹרָאֵל בְּקִנְאָתִי – “And Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying: Pinchas the son of Elazar, son of Aharon the Kohein, has removed My wrath from B’nei Yisrael through his avenging My jealousy amongst them; [...]
The world is, and always has been, obsessed with the attainment of “kavod” – honor (i.e., glory and recognition). And while most people crave it and pursue it, the Torah’s outlook is just the opposite. The ideal, Chazal relate, is to recognize the fallacy of honor and to try to avoid it. As we shall see, the main character of this week’s parshah serves as the model for the [...]
Chazal offer an intriguing interpretation of a familiar passuk. Every day in Keri’as Shema we review the command bidding us to love Hashem and to dedicate ourselves to His service. As it states: וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ד' אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ – “You shall love Hashem your G-d with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your might” (Devarim 6:5). (Actually, each of these items [heart, soul, and might] [...]
Powerful Words of Inspiration
From Rabbi Yissocher Frand
VISIT BETTER THAN A SEGULAH
A division of Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah
All contributions are tax deductible.
Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah / The Society for Mishnah Study is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
We are members of The Donors Fund and Achisomoch.
Become a partner in the vital work of Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah and earn the invaluable merit of Torah study
for yourself or a loved one.
Your tax-deductible donation will enable our
network of Torah scholars to continue their
fundamental mission of providing eternal merit for
the Jewish nation.
