Parashat Masei Numbers 33 33:1 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. Comment: Rashi on this verse counts 42 stages of journey for the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness,… Continue reading My notes on Masei
Month: July 2022
My notes on Matot
Parashat Matot Numbers 30 30:9 But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. Comment: Some modern people may be unhappy to see that the Bible allows the vows of a woman to be annulled by a male family head.… Continue reading My notes on Matot
My notes on Pinchas
Parashat Pinchas Numbers 25 25:11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Comment: Gd explained that the plague stopped… Continue reading My notes on Pinchas
My notes on Balak
Parashat Balak Numbers 22 (continued) 22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. Comment: Balaam is traditionally regarded as a bad guy, and is contrasted with the good guy Abraham in Jewish culture. This contrast is used to bring important moral teachings (see a… Continue reading My notes on Balak
My notes on Chukkat
Parashat Chukkat Numbers19 19:17 And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: Comment: Here “ashes” is literally “dust” in Hebrew, same as the word used when Gd decrees that Adam has to… Continue reading My notes on Chukkat