Moshe, the leader in Parshat Korach and Shmuel, the leader in the Haftara (Shmuel I 11:14-12:22) had a lot in common. They were great leaders but unfortunately, their sons did not follow in their footsteps. God was the one to decide who their successors would be. They...
In Parshat Korach, Bamidbar 16:12 we read: Moshe sent forth to summon Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eliav, but they said, “We will not go up!” Both Rashbam and Chizkuni point out that it is common to say that one “goes up” for judgment. We see that one “goes up” for...
After the account of Korach’s rebellion, we read in Bamidbar 18:8:God spoke to Aaron: “Behold I place in your charge My Truma gifts, of all the sanctities of B’nai Yisrael, to you and your children as an anointed right, as an everlasting...
Sponsored by Sharona & Josh Halickman in Honor of Moshe’s High School GraduationAt the end of Parshat Korach, we read about the gifts that the Kohanim receive as a reward for their service.In Bamidbar 18:13, God tells Aharon the Kohen:The first fruits of...
Sponsored by Lynn and David Frankel In Memory of David’s Parents, Benjamin and Jeannette FrankelNear the end of Parshat Korach, we learn about many of the Mitzvot HaTluyot Ba’Araetz, the agricultural mitzvot that are observed in the Land of Israel. One...
On Monday afternoon, a little before 2:00 pm, I was driving to pick up my son, Yehuda from school in the Bayit VeGan neighborhood of Jerusalem. I passed by Shaarei Zedek Hospital as I usually do and everything was quiet. A few minutes later, on our way back, there...
In Memory of Linda Basch on her 6th Yahrzeit*B’nai Yisrael were wary of the Ktoret (incense) for a few reasons: Aharon’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu died because of the incense as we see in Parshat Shmini, Vayikra 10:1-2: “The sons of Aharon, Nadav and...
In Memory of Linda Basch z”l on her First Yahrzeit**Follow the link to sponsor a shiur for the elderly in Jerusalem in memory of Lindahttp://toratreva.org/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=509&Itemid=509 Parshat Korach begins with...
In Pirkei Avot, Chapter 5, Mishna 20 we read: Every controversy which is for the sake of Heaven will endure in the end; and every one which is not for the sake of Heaven will not endure. Which is a controversy for the sake of Heaven? Such was the conflict of...
In the Haftara for Parshat Korach we read about different times in history when the Jewish people were in danger: Shmuel I 12:8-11: “When Yaakov came to Egypt and your forefathers cried out to God (Vayizaku), God sent Moshe and Aharon and they brought your...
The Parsha ends with a list of the gifts that God presented to the Kohanim as a reward for their service. Teruma is a gift (from fruits and grains) that is mentioned in this section. Those living in Israel are familiar with the laws of Teruma. When we shop...
Yoseph’s brothers did not take the goblet, yet when Binyamin was accused by Yoseph (before they knew who he really was), Yehuda said (Breisheet 44:16): “What shall we say to my master? What can we speak? How can we justify ourselves? God has found the...
Sponsored in Honor of the Birth of a Baby Girl Born to Lt. Aharon Karov, an Israeli Soldier Who Was Critically Wounded in Gaza During Operation Cast Lead Just Days After His Wedding Parshat Korach, Bamidbar 16:1-2 starts...
Sponsored in Memory of Dr. Moshe Carmilly on his First Yahrzeit It is known throughout the world that the Land of Israel is a land flowing with milk and honey. ElAl even runs trips called Milk and Honey tours! We see the milk and honey theme throughout the Torah...
Sponsored by Send A Sefer (www.sendasefer.com) where you can send Jewish Books (Hebrew, English or French), Talitot, Tzizit, P'til Techelet, Mezuzas, Megilot & Tefillin to someone special in Israel! For a Bar- Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Birthdays, Weddings,...
Sponsored by Myrna and Mel Halickman in honour of their son Isaac, completing his Fellowship in Cardiology. Right after the tenth plague, Makat Bechorot, the death of the first born Egyptians, God laid claim to all firstborn Jewish boys. In Parshat Bo, Shmot...
Nechama Leibowitz taught:There is no greater annoyance than when one party to a dispute refuses to sit down and talk things out with the other side. In such a situation lies little hope for peaceful settlement. This sounds exactly like what is happening in the Knesset...
Korach, Moshe and Aharon’s cousin and fellow Levi, as well as his disciples rose up in a rebellion against Moshe and Aharon and complained (Bamidbar 16:3): “You have taken too much for yourselves, for the entire assembly-all of them- are holy (kulam...
When we think of the word “Aliyah”, one of the following two dictionary definitions probably comes to mind:Aliyah: Literally "to go up", the word has acquired two common meanings: to be called up to the bimah during the Torah service when a portion of the...