Category Archives: Torah Portion

Balak, the king of Moav, was afraid of the Jewish people, who were approaching the boundary of his kingdom on their journey to Eretz Yisrael.  He sought someone who had the power to curse the Jewish people, and he sent messengers to Bilam, a prophet of the gentile nations.  “He sent messengers to Bilam sonContinue reading “Balak 5779”

The first chapter of our parsha discusses the mitzvah of the Para Adumah, the red heifer.  This completely red cow was brought as a special sacrifice whose ashes had the power to purify a person who had become impure due to contact with a dead body.  This chapter also talks about the laws of aContinue reading “Chukat 5779”

We learn this week about another difficult parsha in the Torah, the rebellion of Korach and his followers against Moshe Rabenu.  After Korach’s initial words, the Torah says: “Moshe heard and fell on his face.  He spoke to Korach and to his entire assembly, saying, ‘In the morning Hashem will make known the one whoContinue reading “Korach 5779”

Our parsha tells mainly about the sin of the spies, one of the most difficult tests which happened to the Jewish people during their time in the wilderness, and a tragedy which is connected to the destruction of the Temple, whose results we feel until today.  What can we learn from the sin of theContinue reading “Shelach 5779”

“Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.” (Chapter 8, Verses 1-2) Rebbe Noson explains that the light of the Menorah represents the light of the Tsaddik, who reveals the light of the TorahContinue reading “Beha’alotcha 5779”

Welcome to our new web address!  We hope to make some additions and improvements in the coming months. Every Friday night before making Kiddush we bless our children, “May Hashem bless you and safeguard you.  May Hashem illuminate his countenance for you and be gracious to you. May Hashem lift His countenance to you andContinue reading “Naso 5779”

We begin this week the fourth book of the Torah, Bamidbar.  The beginning of the parsha gives a counting of each of the tribes.  God commanded Moshe and Aaron, along with the tribal elders, to take a census of all males above the age of twenty.  Rashi explains that it was due to Hashem’s loveContinue reading “Bamidbar 5779”

This week we celebrate the holiday of Lag B’Omer, which marks the celebration of the yahrzeit of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, one of the greatest Tsaddikim and Sages from the time period of the Mishna.  It also marks the end of the mourning period for the thousands of students of Rebbe Akiva who passed awayContinue reading “Behokotai- Lag B’Omer 5779”

At the end of this week’s Parsha, which talks mainly about the laws of the Sabbatical year and the Jubilee year, the Torah says: “For the Children of Israel are servants to Me, they are My servants, whom I have taken out of the land of Egypt- I am Hashem, your God.” (Chapter 25, VerseContinue reading “Behar 5779”

In the second teaching of his book, Likutei Moharan, Rebbe Nachman brings the first verse of this week’s Torah portion at the beginning of his teaching about prayer and redemption.  “Hashem said to Moshe: Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aaron, and tell them: Each of you shall not contaminate himself to a (dead)Continue reading “Emor 5779”