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“These are the journeys of the Bnei Yisrael, who went from the land of Egypt according to their legions.” (33:1)

The Degel Mateh Efraim cites his rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov Hakadosh, who interprets the forty-two journeys that Klal Yisrael traveled as analogous to a human being’s life span.  Birth, leaving the womb, is like yetzias Mitzrayim, the exodus from Egypt, the beginning of the Jewish nation’s travels. The ensuing journeys lead onward to the ultimate destination, Eretz Yisrael, or – for the individual Jew – the eternal world of Olam Haba. The Papa Rav, z.l., develops this further. As a person journeys from place to place, even within a city, he is confronted with challenges to his spiritual well-…

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“Moshe wrote their goings forth according to their journeys at the bidding of Hashem.” (33:2)

Is there any question that whatever Moshe Rabbeinu wrote was at the bidding of Hashem? Moshe wrote the entire Torah at the bidding of Hashem. Why does the Torah emphasize this regarding their journeys? Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., offers a profound perspective which he derives from the Torah’s focusing on Hashem’s “part” in the recording of history. One must know that history – whether it is Jewish history or world history – is Hashem’s handiwork. Every occurrence, every episode, is the direct product of Hashem’s design. The churban Bais HaMikdash, the destruction of our Temple, is recorded in history. Through…

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“But if the murderer shall at any time go beyond the border of the city of refuge…he has no blood-guilt.” (35:26-27)

In the Sifri, Chazal glean from here that even if the murderer were to take even one step outside of the techum, perimeter, of the City of Refuge, the laws pertaining to the City of Refuge no  longer protect his life. In other words, he takes his life in his own hands. The Gerrer Rebbe, z.l., the Imrei Emes, interpreted this halacha, law, homiletically. When a person experiences difficult periods in his life, the only way to deal with the challenges to one’s faith that often accompany such ordeals is to plant both feet within the confines of the bais…

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“These are the journeys of Bnei Yisrael, who went forth from the land of Egypt.” (33:1)

We must keep on going forward – not lingering in the past. While we must never forget the past, it is incumbent upon us to look forward to the future. We have left Egypt; the pain, persecution and travail are behind us. We should go forward towards new horizons.  When we live in the past, we become depressed and stagnant. The Lomza Rosh HaYeshivah, Horav Yechiel Mordechai Gordon, z.l., would walk through the streets of Petach Tikvah with an air of nobility and dignity which bespoke a person who seemed not to have a care in the world. He spoke and…

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“He shall dwell in it until the death of the Kohen Gadol.” (35:25)

What connection is there between the unintentional murderer and the Kohen Gadol? Rashi explains that the Kohen Gadol should have prayed to Hashem that such a tragedy in which one Jew kills another Jew, albeit unintentionally, does not occur during his tenure as Kohen Gadol. It is interesting how the Torah emphasizes that davening is not enough. One must know what to daven for. The Kohen Gadol should have prayed for the spiritual welfare of the people of his generation. Had he done so, the tragedy that occurred would have been circumvented. The Chafetz Chaim, z.l., draws a powerful analogy to…

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“These are the journeys of the Bnei Yisrael, who went from the land of Egypt according to their legions.” (33:1)

The Degel Mateh Efraim cites his rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov Hakadosh, who interprets the forty-two journeys that Klal Yisrael traveled as analogous to a human being’s life span.  Birth, leaving the womb, is like yetzias Mitzrayim, the exodus from Egypt, the beginning of the Jewish nation’s travels. The ensuing journeys lead onward to the ultimate destination, Eretz Yisrael, or – for the individual Jew – the eternal world of Olam Haba. The Papa Rav, z.l., develops this further. As a person journeys from place to place, even within a city, he is confronted with challenges to his spiritual well-…

Continue Reading

“Moshe wrote their goings forth according to their journeys at the bidding of Hashem.” (33:2)

Is there any question that whatever Moshe Rabbeinu wrote was at the bidding of Hashem? Moshe wrote the entire Torah at the bidding of Hashem. Why does the Torah emphasize this regarding their journeys? Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., offers a profound perspective which he derives from the Torah’s focusing on Hashem’s “part” in the recording of history. One must know that history – whether it is Jewish history or world history – is Hashem’s handiwork. Every occurrence, every episode, is the direct product of Hashem’s design. The churban Bais HaMikdash, the destruction of our Temple, is recorded in history. Through…

Continue Reading

“But if the murderer shall at any time go beyond the border of the city of refuge…he has no blood-guilt.” (35:26-27)

In the Sifri, Chazal glean from here that even if the murderer were to take even one step outside of the techum, perimeter, of the City of Refuge, the laws pertaining to the City of Refuge no  longer protect his life. In other words, he takes his life in his own hands. The Gerrer Rebbe, z.l., the Imrei Emes, interpreted this halacha, law, homiletically. When a person experiences difficult periods in his life, the only way to deal with the challenges to one’s faith that often accompany such ordeals is to plant both feet within the confines of the bais…

Continue Reading

“These are the journeys of the Bnei Yisrael, who went from the land of Egypt according to their legions.” (33:1)

The Degel Mateh Efraim cites his rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov Hakadosh, who interprets the forty-two journeys that Klal Yisrael traveled as analogous to a human being’s life span.  Birth, leaving the womb, is like yetzias Mitzrayim, the exodus from Egypt, the beginning of the Jewish nation’s travels. The ensuing journeys lead onward to the ultimate destination, Eretz Yisrael, or – for the individual Jew – the eternal world of Olam Haba. The Papa Rav, z.l., develops this further. As a person journeys from place to place, even within a city, he is confronted with challenges to his spiritual well-…

Continue Reading

“Moshe wrote their goings forth according to their journeys at the bidding of Hashem.” (33:2)

Is there any question that whatever Moshe Rabbeinu wrote was at the bidding of Hashem? Moshe wrote the entire Torah at the bidding of Hashem. Why does the Torah emphasize this regarding their journeys? Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., offers a profound perspective which he derives from the Torah’s focusing on Hashem’s “part” in the recording of history. One must know that history – whether it is Jewish history or world history – is Hashem’s handiwork. Every occurrence, every episode, is the direct product of Hashem’s design. The churban Bais HaMikdash, the destruction of our Temple, is recorded in history. Through…

Continue Reading

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