Torah Portion

Moses’s perspective was different, and it is the perspective of Judaism from then until today: Action precedes experience.

Just as the perception created by the promoter in Herzl’s story defeated the reality of a mediocre singer, so did the perception created by the 10 spies defeat reality.

Our descent into gloomy pessimism was caused by loss of faith – both in God and in ourselves.

Just as the history of hafrashat (taking) challah has had different chapters in its long existence, we find the same with challah, the bread served on Shabbat. 

Sages are capable of making mistakes – and that is what this parasha deals with. This fact does not diminish the value of the wise, who are, after all, human beings.

Why is it necessary to give an order on how to call the people or how to go to war? What is special about the trumpets that the nation was commanded to use them in these situations?

As Moses was able to rise above the moment and ask that God heal and not punish Miriam, we must – so we can enter the peace of Shabbat – let go of any acrimony we may have with any family members.

Its words are the oldest of the Torah ever found and the earliest artifact of Jewish liturgy we have in physical form, some 500 years before the Dead Sea Scrolls.

When we stand on Shavuot and recreate in our hearts the revelation at Mount Sinai and the acceptance of the Torah, we are called upon to remember that the Torah does not stand alone.

The children of Israel were counted before embarking on the journey to inculcate in the people these two important values: equality and uniqueness.