Several times when Moses is challenged in the Torah and he fears for his life, the text says Vayipol Al Panav “And he fell on his face.” What does this mean? Does it literally mean he fell flat on his face? That must have hurt and we are commanded not to hurt ourselves. I don’t think we are meant to…
Author: Jeremy Rosen
Tzitzit
These weeks we read a series of chapters that deal with errors of human judgment and poor choices. The impact of such mistakes is often far greater than we envision or anticipate. At the end of last week, we read about Tsitzit, the fringes they used to wear on their outer garments which were like square blankets with a hole…
Censors and staffs
I never understood how it was that Korah and his crew were willing undergo a test before God to see who was right. You recall that Nadav and Avihu the sons of Aaron had taken it upon themselves to challenge Aaron’s authority and had brought their own incense to the dedication of the Tabernacle. Fire fell from heaven and consumed…
Spies
God tells Moses to send in men “latur” to go around, the same word in Hebrew we use for tourist in English. One man per tribe. They were not actually called spies. They were important men of high reputation. Although their names are surprising, three goats, a horse, a camel, a dog and a secret. Moses specifically asked them to…
Facts
The twelve men who were sent into Canaan to decide on a plan of invasion. Ten came back and declared it was impossible and two were in favor. They all saw the same evidence, had the same experiences and yet came to diametrically opposed conclusions. The result then was that the majority turned against the invasion. For all the thousands…
Moses Appeals
God’s anger is so great that He says He will destroy the Israelites and start again with Moses and his family. Moses entreaties God and begs him to change his mind. What will people say? That he took the Israelites out to kill them? That He was incapable of fulfilling His promise? In style, it is very similar to Abraham’s…