Blog Archives

The last reading from the book of Numbers is the double portion, Matot-Massei, Numbers 30:2-36:13.[i] The haftarah, Jeremiah 2:4-28 and 4:1-2, is the second of a series of three “haftarot of affliction” leading to Tisha b’Av, the annual commemoration of … Continue reading →

This week’s parasha, Pinchas, Numbers 25:10-30:1,[i] continues the narrative begun last week with Balaam. Only in this week’s parasha, Israel falls prey to Balaam’s suggestions on how to cause HaShem to curse Israel even though he (Balaam) had not been … Continue reading →

This week’s parasha is Balak, Numbers 22:2 – 25:9.[i] The Haftarah is Micah 5:6 – 6:8 and the reading from the Apostolic Writings is found in Romans 11:25-32. Israel is moving through the Wilderness on their way to the land … Continue reading →

This week’s parasha, Chukat, Numbers 19:1 – 22:1 is probably one of the saddest portions in the entire cycle. In 20:1, Miriam dies and was buried in the wilderness. In the same chapter, HaShem’s anger at Moshe and Aaron find … Continue reading →

This week’s parasha is Korach, Numbers 16:1 – 18:32,[i] the haftarah is 1 Samuel 11:14 – 12:22. Most of the parasha’s deals with the rebellion of Korach, HaShem’s judgement on Korach and his party, the rebellion of the people against … Continue reading →

This week’s parasha is Sh’lach lecha (you send), Numbers 13:1 – 15:41,[i] which is the well-known, though tragic episode, of the twelve spies being sent to check-out the land before entering as a nation (Numbers 13-14). Tragic, because of the … Continue reading →