Growth in the Wilderness

Headshot of Rabbi Pat Fenton
by Rabbi Patricia Fenton
posted on June 19, 2014
Torah Reading
Haftarah Reading
This week's parashah continues the teachings concerning the sanctuary. It discusses lighting the menorah, the observance of Pesakh Sheni for those unable to observe Passover in its proper time, laws of the first-born and the Levites, and the procedures for breaking camp and walking in the wilderness. Read more...

Defamatory Speech

Headshot of Elliot Dorff
by Rabbi Elliot Dorff, PhD
posted on July 5, 2013
Torah Reading
Haftarah Reading
"Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married: 'He married a Cushite woman!' ... As the cloud withdrew from the Tent, there was Miriam stricken with snow-white scales! And Aaron said to Moses, 'O my lord, account not to us the sin that we committed in our folly...'" (Numbers 12:1, 10, 11) Read more...

Loving God and Being Loved by God

Photograph of Reb Mimi Feigelson
by Reb Mimi Feigelson
posted on July 17, 2012
Torah Reading
Haftarah Reading
Three words in the Torah become six words in Rashi’s commentary. They then become multiple columns of interpretation in the teachings of the Alexander Rebbe (Rabbi Yerachmiel Yisroel Yitzchak Danziger, 1853–1910). The Torah says: "ויעש כן אהרון" (Bamidbar 8:3) – "And Aharon did so". Meaning to say, that Aharon did as God commanded when lighting the menorah, the seven candles in the mishkan (tabernacle). Read more...

Where's the Beef?

Headshot of Gail Labovitz
by Rabbi Gail Labovitz, PhD
posted on May 29, 2010
Torah Reading
Haftarah Reading
"Where's the beef?" Modern consumers (or advertisers) of fast-food were not the first to ask this question. Beginning with this parashah, Beha'alotcha, the book of Bamidbar recounts multiple episodes of rebellion and complaint among the Children of Israel during their journey from Mount Sinai to the Land of Israel. We read in Chapter 11 that the Israelites in the wilderness receive an ample supply of manna (which "tasted like rich cream"; Num. 11:8), but they are not satisfied. Read more...