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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Beha'alotcha
interpretation: "As a hammer striking an anvil
emits 70 sparks," says the Midrash, "so can one
find 70 different meanings to every sentence,
every word, even every letter within the Torah."
I get this; the untold number of different
commentaries on the Torah dissect every part of
every pasuk so as to mine golden messages &
hidden secrets. But in our Sedra, there is a
unique phenomenon that is puzzling in the
extreme: 2 p’sukim (10:35-36), containing the
words that we say when the Torah is taken out of
the Aron & when it’s put back (Vay’hi binsoa &
Uv’nucha Yomar) are surrounded by upside-down,
floating nuns. Huh? What is this all about?
Rashi suggests that this small section doesn’t
really belong here, but it serves to "break up"
the long list of complaints (the lack of water;
the shortage of meat; the taste of the Mahn, etc)
that appear in this sedra. The Rav posits that
the Torah could actually have ended here, & the
nation enter Israel immediately, if not for our
descent into bickering & belly-aching. And so
this section marks the break between what could have been, & what is.
But why davka these 2 p’sukim? And what’s with
the "flying nuns" (who remembers that show?!)? I
see in this bizarre item a striking connection to our present situation.
We were sailing along majestically in Israel; we
had everything: a marvelous, beautiful country
with a strong economy; a mighty army, kosher
hotels from coast to coast & expanding relations
with once-hostile neighbors. And then, on Oct. 7,
it all literally blew up in our faces. The twin
nuns of nifla’ot (wonders) & nisim (miracles)
suddenly turned upside down, as our world went
topsy-turvy. The cry to Hashem in this first
pasuk, "Hashem, scatter your enemies, make those
who hate You run away" became frighteningly, desperately real.
The intra-Jewish fighting, the caustic rhetoric
of opposing sides sweeping the country prior to
October 7 resulted in a tragic tear of our
national fabric, inviting the enemy to take
advantage of our weakness, to sweep in across our borders & brutally attack us.
And now we must regroup, we must repair the rift
that got us here, knowing that only when we are
united, on the same page, can we hope to prevail
upon Hashem to sustain the fragile existence we enjoy in this great land.
"Nun" equals 50 in Gematriya, so "nun-nun" is
"50-50." Our survival hinges on our ongoing
partnership with G-d; it is a "50-50 proposition"
wherein we work together to repair the nuns & so
effect the nisim & niflaot that power our
presence. If we do that, then surely we will
fulfill the second pasuk & Hashem will "rest
tranquilly among the myriads of Israel."
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
