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Yocheved, daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. (26:59)

Yocheved was counted among the original seventy souls that accompanied Yaakov Avinu as he went down to Egypt.  Horav Eli Munk, zl, in his commentary Kol Ha’torah, notes that Yocheved was  placed at the core of this genealogy.  He attributes this honor to her exceptional destiny.  She married her nephew, Amram, a union that was legitimate only because the Torah had not yet been given.  When Pharaoh decreed that all new-born Jewish boys be put to death, her husband divorced her.  At the time, she was three months pregnant with Moshe.  Her daughter Miriam,  inspired by Ruach Ha’kodesh, convinced her…

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He was zealous for My sake in their midst…Because he was zealous for his G-d and made atonement for the Bnei Yisrael. (25:11,13)

What is the significance of the fact that Pinchas performed his act of zealousness “in their midst”?  Sforno comments that Pinchas avenged Hashem’s honor in the sight of all. Although they had originally seen Zimri’s despicable act, and they did not protest, they could find atonement for not protesting against Pinchas.  What Sforno is saying is that the masses were guilty of apathy.  They witnessed blatant acts of harlotry and idolatry, yet they  failed to object or to  intervene.  Their atonement would now be attained by permitting Pinchas to publicly carry out his act of zealousness.  Sforno teaches us that…

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Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon Ha’kohen turned back My wrath from upon the Bnei Yisrael when he zealously avenged Me among them…Behold! I give him My covenant of Peace…And it shall be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal priesthood. (25: 11,12, 13)

Pinchas receives the ultimate reward–Kehunas olam–eternal priesthood.  This blessing of everlasting priesthood was not bestowed upon anyone else.  It was not bestowed neither upon  Moshe the lawgiver, nor Aharon the Kohen, who was the paradigmatic peacemaker.  Horav Moshe Swift, zl, notes that the blessing of continuity, the concept of uninterrupted service to Hashem, was neither a product of  the service in the Mikdash  nor  the teaching in the Bais Ha’midrash.  While these contribute to future development,  they do not actually forge the links in the chain of continuity.  They do not create a “lo ul’zaro acharav” for him and his…

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Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon Ha’kohen turned back My wrath from upon the Bnei Yisrael. (25:11)

Upon consideration, did Pinchas really have to act in such a drastic manner?  He is lauded for avenging the honor of Hashem. Was there no other way to prevent Zimri from performing his reprehensible act of rebellion against Hashem?  Could  Pinchas not have chosen a less “final” — and perhaps  more conciliatory — solution for the “Zimri” problem?  This is the type of question that plagues those who do not quite understand the meaning of the term “kanai,” zealot.  Pinchas was not a reactionary  who unleashed his uncontrollable anger, killing innocent people.  He was not a religious maniac whose lack…

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And Moshe raised up the Mishkan. (40:18)

Sforno explains that Moshe did not raise up the Mishkan in the usual sense. He first hung up the ten Yerios, curtains, which essentially represent the Mishkan. Afterwards, he laid down the Adanim, sockets, and interfaced the Kerashim, wooden beams, with them. Apparently, Moshe either had the Leviim hold up the curtains until the foundation was placed beneath them, or they were suspended miraculously in mid-air. Obviously, this is why no one but Moshe Rabbeinu was able to raise up the Mishkan. The question is why Moshe found it necessary to raise up the Mishkan in this manner. Furthermore, if…

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Moshe could not enter the Ohel Moed, for the cloud rested upon it. (40:35)

The Midrash explains that Moshe was not afraid to enter through the cloud. Indeed, we find in Parashas Mishpatim 24:18 that the cloud split open and permitted Moshe to walk through as if the path had been paved for him. Rather, the meaning of “v’lo yachol,” “Moshe could not enter,” is that Moshe gave reverence to the Shechinah and did not enter until Hashem called him. We may question the Torah’s use of the phrase, “v’lo Yachol” “He could not.” If Moshe’s reluctance to enter was due to his remarkable derech eretz, respect for the Al-mighty, the Torah should have…

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He put the Shulchan in the Ohel Moed on the north side of the Mishkan…He placed the Menorah in the Ohel Moed…on the south side of the Mishkan. (40:22,24)

In the Talmud Bava Basra 25b Chazal say, “He who desires to become wise shall go south; He who desires to become wealthy shall go north. The placement of the Shulchan in the north and the Menorah in the south supports this idea. The Shulchan symbolized material wealth, since it was the medium through which the blessing of nourishment flowed to the world. The Menorah represented Torah wisdom, which is compared to light. The wisdom of the Torah illuminates the path of life before a person and guides him along the way. Consequently, the Menorah was placed on the right…

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Betzalel the son of Uri, the son of Chur…did all that Hashem commanded Moshe. (38:22)

Chazal attribute Betzalel’s name to his superior wisdom. They relate that when Hashem told Moshe to oversee the construction of the Mishkan and its vessels, Moshe conveyed the message to Betzalel so that the sequence was: first the vessels and then the Mishkan. Betzalel questioned this order, remarking, “The minhag ha’olam, usual custom, is to build a house and then afterwards bring the furniture into it. You, however, are telling me to first make the vessels. Where will I put them in the interim until the Mishkan is built? Perhaps Hashem told you to construct the Mishkan first and then…

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And Cham saw…his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers. And Shem and Yafes took a garment…and covered the nakedness of their father and their faces were backward. (9:22,23)

We have here before us a distinction between the two reactions among Noach’s sons, the reaction of Cham as opposed to that of his brothers, Shem and Yafes. Cham observes an indiscretion on the part of his father, and he immediately exploits it. Not only does Cham jest about his father’s failing, but he also goes out of his way to publicize it. He shows no filial respect whatsoever. His two brothers, on the other hand, throw the mantle of love over their father’s weakness; they turn their heads away, so even they would not view their father’s shame. We…

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“Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood.” (6:14)

The Torah recounts the construction of two “structures” the Ark and the Mishkan. In a lecture to a group of students, Horav Yitzchak Hutner, zl, commented that these two structures can serve as metaphors to describe the disparity between Jewish education during pre-World War II Europe and its parallel in contemporary society. The Mishkan was an edifice dedicated to spiritual ascendancy. All the people who resided in proximity of the Mishkan were “spiritually correct.” They were not exposed to harmful environmental influences which were antithetical to their faith in Hashem and His Torah. Their commitment to the Almighty was not…

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