Tag: Parent-Child Learning
Torah Talk for Parashat Balak
July 20, 2016 by
In this parasha, the king of Moav asks Bil’am to curse the Bnei Yisrael after he sees them defeat various nations in battle. Bil’am’s donkey sees an angel of God and refuses to move; Bil’am hits the donkey; and God speaks through the mouth of the donkey to tell him not to curse the Bnei […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Chukat
July 13, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem instructs Moshe and Aaron regarding the parah adumah (red heifer); Miriam dies; to bring forth water Moshe hits a rock rather than speaking to it; Aaron dies. The order of the stories in chapter 20 can teach us a number of lessons about leadership. The first thing that happens is that Miriam […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Korach
July 6, 2016 by
In this parasha, Korach and his followers rebel against Moshe’s and Aharon’s leadership and are killed; God instructs Aharon regarding laws of the kehuna (priesthood). After the rebellion of Korach is quashed, Moshe devises a test to prove once and for all that the tribe of Levi, and specifically the Cohanim, are supposed to be the spiritual leaders […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Shlach
June 29, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe sends scouts to explore the Land of Israel; ten of them convince the people that it will be too difficult to conquer the land, and Hashem responds to their lack of confidence by punishing Bnei Yisrael with 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The people are given the commandments of […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Beha’alotecha
June 21, 2016 by
In this parasha, the Bnei Yisrael receive instructions regarding Pesach; they journey forth from Sinai and complain to God on several occasions, provoking God’s anger; Miriam and Aaron speak against Moshe. Chapter 10, verses 1-10 describe the construction of the chatzotzrot, the trumpets used in the worship service. Many people do not realize that the […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Nasso
June 14, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem describes the service of the Gershonite family of Levi’im (Levites); laws relating to the sotah (suspected adulteress) and the nazir (nazirite) are given; Hashem tells Moshe and Aharon the Birkat Cohanim (Priestly Blessing); the heads of tribes bring gifts to the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Birkat Cohanim is a simple blessing that […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Bamidbar
June 1, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe conducts a census of the Israelites and the Levites, and he sets up the structure of the wilderness encampment; Hashem describes the unique duties of the Kehati family from where the cohanim (priests) come. The Torah contains many hidden messages. Some of these messages appear in the names used in the […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Bechukotai
May 31, 2016 by
In this parasha, God enumerates the rewards for keeping the commandments and the punishments for violating them; the laws of tithes are then listed. The parasha mentions different legal terms in various places: Chukim, Mishpatime, Mitzvot, and Torot. There are many, many different explanations for the differences between these terms. The translations do us no good […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Behar
May 24, 2016 by
In this parasha, God tells Moshe to instruct the people on the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, as well as on how to relate to those in the community who become impoverished. Anyone who has visited the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia (including all those who have passed through our fifth grade) knows that it […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Emor
May 17, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem gives Moshe a series of laws specific to the cohanim (priests); Hashem then instructs Moshe to tell the people about the festivals in addition to the laws of blasphemy and murder. The Torah commands us the following (23:15-16): “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the day of […]
