“In ten utterances did G-d create the world” (Avot 5:1). It is thus not surprising that many see man’s ability to speak as the…
Mattot: The Land of Our People
“And a lot of livestock did the children of the Reuven and Gad have and they saw the Ya’azer, and Gilead areas that were good for livestock” (…
Mattot-Massei: The Journey Continues
The Torah is full of repetition. Whether it is law or narrative, much of the Torah seems to deal with recurring themes. Our Sages have focused on…
Mattot: Split in Half
The centrality of the land of Israel is a basic tenet of Jewish thought. Our Sages note that mitzvot performed outside the land of Israel are little…
Mattot: Moshe and Midian
"G-d spoke to Moses, saying: Take revenge for the Israelites against the Midianites. Then you shall die and be gathered to your people…
Mattot: Promises
Promises, promises. We are used to hearing them being broken, especially when they are made by our political leaders. Parshat Mattot begins…
Mattot-Massei: It's Your Land
“And Elazar the priest said: This is the law of the Torah, which the Lord commanded Moshe” (Bamidbar 31:21). The Torah goes on to…
Mattot-Massei: A Sojourn in Germany
“And these are the travels of the children of Israel”. We know little of many of the places the Jewish people encamped during their stay in the…