PARASHAS MATTOS 1. The Sanctity of the Sages’ Words ‘וידבר משה אל ראשי המטות לבני ישראל לאמר זה הדבר אשר צוה ה Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the Children of Israel, to say: This is the … Continue reading →

Parashas Pinchas – The Righteousness of Pinchas פִּינְחָס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aharon the Kohen (25:11).             After Pinchas killed Zimri, the people protested: Since Pinchas was (maternally) a descendant of Yisro, who fattened calves … Continue reading →

Parashas Balak – The Merit of Yaakov Avinu   וירא בלק בן צפור את כל אשר עשה ישראל לאמרי Balak son of Zippor saw all that Yisrael had done to the Emorite (22:2).   ויגר מואב מפני העם מאד כי רב הוא ויקץ מואב מפני בני ישראל Moav feared the nation greatly because it was numerous, and Moav … Continue reading →

CHASAM SOFER – CHUKAS The Divine Wisdom זאת חקת התורה This is the decree of the Torah (19:2).             Inpresenting the laws of Parah Adumah, the Red Cow, the Torah describes it as the “decree of the [entire] Torah.” Why … Continue reading →

CHASAM SOFER – KORACH What’s in a Name וְיִקַּח קֹרַח בֶּן־יִצְהָר בֶּן־קְהָת בֶּן־לֵוִי Korach took — the son of Yitzhar, son of Kehas, son of Levi (16:1).        The name Korach first appears in the Torah in Parashas Vayishlach (36:5), … Continue reading →

CHASAM SOFER – SHELACH The Revealed and Inner Meanings of the Word שלח שלח לך אנשים Send forth men for yourself (13:2).             As the Torah will relate (14:1), when the meraglim (spies) returned from Eretz Yisrael with their evil … Continue reading →

CHASAM SOFER – BAMIDBAR 1. One Census, Two Meanings שְׂאוּ אֶת ראש כל עדת בני ישראל Count the heads of the entire assembly of the Children of Israel (1:2) The term used for “count the heads” is שְׂאוּ אֶת ראש, … Continue reading →